Hong Kong extends social distancing measures to August 25

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced the extension of existing social distancing measures for seven days to August 25.

The measures include restrictions on dine-in services and requirements to wear a face mask in public places.

"If we do not persevere and proceed with caution, the hard work the entire community has put in over the past few weeks to contain the third wave of infections would be in vain and we may see extensive transmission of COVID-19 across different locations, sectors and population groups in Hong Kong as well as our healthcare system on the verge of collapse again," a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said in a statement.

The government said the latest virus strain circulating in the city is observed to have higher transmissibility, and its spread to elderly homes and elderly or chronic disease patients has caused a rising mortality rate.

The spokesman warned against complacency in epidemic control, saying "if Hong Kong wants to revert to a sustained low level of infection, the community needs to continue its vigilance in fighting the pandemic together."