Hong Kong: Authorities to ease restrictions on public gatherings September 11 /update 39

Event

Hong Kong authorities have announced that restrictions on public gatherings will be eased expanding the size of public gatherings to four people and sports venues will also reopen from Friday, September 11, as officials ease restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The decision comes after the daily number of COVID-19 cases dropped significantly in recent days. From Friday, groups of up to four may dine together in restaurants and outdoor and indoor recreation spaces will be allowed to reopen, with the exception of swimming pools.

Authorities had previously eased restrictions by extending opening hours for restaurant dining services and allowing gyms and massage parlors to resume operations last week.

If conditions allow, authorities plan to reopen convention centers and theme parks by September 18 and resume face-to-face classes by September 23.

As of Tuesday, September 8, there have been 4,895 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong with 99 associated deaths. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Since then, human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and tiredness. Some patients may experience other symptoms such as body pains, nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell or a rash on skin or discoloration of fingers or toes. These symptoms (in most cases mild) appear gradually. Generally, most patients (around 80 percent) recover from the disease without being hospitalized. 

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the virus.