By The SUN
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| More people will be allowed to sit together in restaurants and bars, but live shows are banned |
In response to appeals from the catering industry for the easing of rules pertaining to people eating and drinking together in restaurants and bars, the government issued late on Friday guidelines raising the maximum number of diners per group in such places.
Starting on Thursday, Oct. 6, the maximum number of
people who may eat together in restaurants or gather in party rooms, karaokes,
swimming pools and other designated premises will be increased to 12 from the
current eight.
Those who can sit together in bars will go up to six
from the current four.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
For banquets, the maximum number of people who will be
allowed to gather in one place has been doubled to 240 from the present 120.
The government also allowed the resumption of trips-to-nowhere
trips on cruise ships, which were halted at the start of the fifth wave of the
pandemic earlier this year.
However, live performances are still prohibited in these
venues. Also, the requirement for banquet guests, as well as patrons of bars,
pubs and nightclubs to undergo a rapid antigen test within 24 hours before
entry will remain.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
Opening hours will be kept to up to midnight for
restaurants and 2am for bars and pubs. The allowed capacity for most of the
venues, including cinemas, theaters and churches will be kept at 85 percent.
The vaccine pass scheme where the minimum age
requirement was lowered to five from today, will also continue. This means
those on red or amber code will still be prevented from entering high-risk
places such as eateries, libraries, swimming pools.
The government said the rules prohibiting group
gatherings in public places will be kept, meaning only up to four people are
still allowed to gather together outdoors. They should also keep on their
masks, unless performing strenuous exercises.
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According to the government statement, the Covid-19
situation has recently subsided, with positive cases dropping from a high of
11,000 in early September to between 3,000 and 4,000 in recent days.
Earlier, the government allowed people, especially
caregivers, to store up to eight vaccination QR codes in their LeaveHomeSafe
app so they can easily accompany young children and elderly people aged 65 who
have vaccine passes, to enter designated premises.
Children aged 5 to 11 should have two doses of a
Covid-19 vaccine, or are within three months of receiving their first jab, to
qualify for the vaccine pass.
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As for those aged 12 and above, they now must receive their
third dose within five months, instead of six months, to continue using their
vaccine pass.
Details of the amended regulations may be found here: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202209/30/P2022093000818.htm
Meanwhile, health authorities reported 3,907 new
Covid-19 infections on Saturday, 226 of them imported.
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| BASAHIN ANG DETALYE |
Six deaths involving Covid patients were also
recorded.
More than 1,600 patients are receiving treatment in
public hospitals, including 11 who are under intensive care.
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