The Hong Kong government has announced that starting Friday (28/8), restaurants will be allowed to serve dine-in until 9 p.m., and other entertainment venues such as cinemas will reopen, Tuesday (25/8/2020).
Health Minister Sophia Chan told reporters that beauty salons and some outdoor sports venues would also reopen, as she said the number of coronavirus cases appeared to have decreased in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has experienced a sharp spike in the number of coronavirus infections since the first week of July, prompting the government to impose a number of strict restrictions, including a ban on gatherings of more than two people.
Restaurants across the city are still limited to serving places to eat, they are only allowed to provide take-out service after 6pm, but will soon be allowed to provide dine-in service until 9pm starting from Friday.
“Therefore, given the … new normal situation as well as the recent epidemic situation, we feel that we can extend the [meal service] by a few hours. And why it’s 9pm and not 10, not 11, I think it’s because we want to shorten the time people spend wearing masks, but still balance it with the needs of the city’s residents,” Chan explained.
“Restrictions on gatherings of more than two people will remain in place, using the same excuse, we don’t want too many people gathering together when they take off their masks,” added Chan.
Chan also said that people who exercise outdoors would also be exempted from regulations requiring the use of face masks, and the mandatory wearing of masks for mountain climbers would also be relaxed. The health service also reminded city dwellers that it is important to remember that the virus is still circulating in the community.
“When people try to get out and continue some of these activities … they also have to be careful. The current restrictions will be in effect for another two days and details of new regulations in each sector will be announced at a later date,” Chan said.
