HKSAR to extend anti-epidemic measures by 7 days: Carrie Lam

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday that social distancing measures, which were set to expire at midnight on Thursday, will be extended by seven days until October 1 amid the COVID-19 outbreak.

Hong Kong recorded 67 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the past week, of which 44 were from overseas, reversing the trend since the third wave in July when locally transmitted cases dominated the epidemic, Lam said, indicating that the outbreak was easing but there were still several locally transmitted cases from unknown sources.

Lam urged the public to remain vigilant – especially as schools would reopen in stages on Wednesday – since there was a chain of hidden transmission in the community.

Most venues reopened after the fourth phase of the relaxation of social distancing measures was announced on September 15, but to avoid a backlash, public and local operators were urged to exercise self-discipline and take adequate preventive measures.