Hong Kong to further ease Covid restrictions, reported to announce full reopening next month
Hong Kong to further ease Covid restrictions, reported to announce full reopening next month

Hong Kong to further ease Covid restrictions, reported to announce full reopening next month

 

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Hong Kong will further ease Covid-19 curbs from Oct 6, including raising the maximum number of restaurant diners from eight to twelve persons, while banquets will be allowed to have up to 240 people attending, compared with 120 now, the authority said on Friday.

The eight-person group cap at designated premises such as gyms, karaoke rooms, and beauty parlors will also be relaxed to 12.  Meanwhile, bars, pubs, and nightclubs could also cater to six people at each table, from the previous cap of four, though the rapid antigen test requirement for customers going to bars and participating in banquet activities will remain.  In addition, the circuit breaker mechanism for cruises will be revoked.

Commenting on the possibility of adopting the “0+0” quarantine measure for inbound travelers, the health deputy said it’s still too soon to make any decision as the “0+3” scheme has only been up and running for five days, with little data to justify another move.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee is likely to announce the reopening of Hong Kong in his upcoming Policy Address on 19 October, local newspaper Sing Tao Daily cited people familiar with the matter.

After implementing “0+0” inbound quarantine arrangement, he will promote Hong Kong to the world and give out the 500,000 air tickets purchased by the Airport Authority Hong Kong in 2020 to passengers worldwide, the report said.