Hong Kong extends bar lockdown by fortnight

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has extended the city’s bar lockdown for another 14 days until the 7th May meaning that its bars and clubs will remain closed for this period, however restrictions on certain restaurants which were allowed remain open during this time will be relaxed.

 

The Coronavirus restrictions had originally been set for review today but Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor stated that, “Now is not the time to be complacent. If we relax the good work that we have done will be in vain.

“That’s why the bans, that would have expired on April 23, will now be extended by two weeks.”

The move to extend restrictions is likely to have followed a second wave of infection in Hong Kong stemming from “imported cases” that are now “basically under control”.

And although the city seemed to be containing the spread of the virus with no infections recorded on 20^th April, the lockdown and social distancing regulations had to remain in place to ensure that the battle against the coronavirus was kept up, she said.

As a result of the extension, alcohol sales continue to be banned as do gatherings of more than four people until at least the 7^th of May.

The penalties for failing to comply with the latest directive under Hong Kong’s Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation are HK$50,00 (€6,000) and six months in prison.

But while the 1.5 metre special distancing measure between partitioned restaurant tables (to contain no more than four persons) remains in place, the Food and Health Bureau there is to relax the 50% capacity cap on customer numbers who can enter.