By The SUN
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| CE Lam says the lifting of gathering restrictions will be done gradually |
The gradual relaxation of social distancing rules will go ahead as planned starting on Apr 21, or a week after the Holy Week break.
This was announced by Chief Executive Carrie Lam who was joined in her press conference today by Health Secretary Sophia Chan and Leisure and Cultural Services Director Vincent Liu.
Among the changes that will come into effect are: allowing up to four people to gather in public, removing the ban on household gatherings, and allowing restaurants to serve dinner and operate until 10pm, and sit up to four people to a table, instead of two.
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Most other premises that were ordered to close – including theme parks, sports venues, beauty and massage parlours, gyms, cinemas and churches - will be allowed to reopen but can only operate at 50 percent of their capacity and everyone must wear masks.
Bars and pubs, however, will remain shut.
CE Lam said the relaxation of rules will surely pose risks of a new Covid outbreak, but it is important to balance this with the need for life to return to normal.
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Pointing to the thousands of isolation and quarantine rooms that have been built or designated, as well as the ample supply of Covid vaccines, she said “it will be very, very unreasonable and perhaps unacceptable” to continue to close the premises.
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In addition to reopening the scheduled premises, Chan said certain cinemas can also serve food and drinks if their staff and all visitors inside the venue are triple-jabbed except children under the age of 12 or are newly recovered Covid patients.
Local tours will also be allowed to resume if all participants are vaccinated.
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| Chan says there will be no more restrictions on private gatherings |
The existing rule prohibiting the gathering of members of two households in private homes will be scrapped totally.
“Starting Apr 21 we will lift the rule against the mixing of more than two households in private premises,” said Chan.
But outdoor gatherings will still be restricted to only four people to a group.
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The CE reminded people to continue observing the stricter protocols during the Easter holidays which start tomorrow, especially the wearing of face masks when they’re out in public.
She also said no details of the next phase of the relaxation of social distancing measures were announced because they want to monitor the situation after the East holiday, and take into account any sudden increase in confirmed cases that might occur.
