(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government extends social distancing measures until August 18
China News Service, Hong Kong, August 10th. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government stated on the 10th that it has gazetted the instructions and specifications under the relevant laws to continue the existing social distancing measures. The relevant instructions and specifications will take effect from 0:00 on August 12th for a period of 7 days until August 18th.
According to the Information Service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, on the 10th, the Special Administrative Region Government has issued regulations on the Prevention and Control of Diseases (Requirements and Instructions) (Business and Premises) Regulations (Chapter 599F) and the Regulations on Prevention and Control of Diseases (Prohibition of Group Gathering). Regulations (Chapter 599G) and the instructions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Mask Wearing) Regulations (Chapter 599I) are gazetted to continue the existing social distancing measures.
The SAR government stated that the new crown pneumonia epidemic in Hong Kong has continued to be severe in recent days. Although the number of new confirmed cases every day has dropped slightly in the past week, the overall number is still at a high level and the death rate has continued to rise. Among them, the source of about 40% of local cases is unknown, indicating that the community has a continuous chain of invisible transmission and there is still a high risk of large-scale outbreaks. However, there is still a large number of people in the market as a whole. There are many people gathering in indoor and outdoor public places on weekends, and citizens are obviously tired of fighting the epidemic.
The SAR government pointed out that, according to the opinions of the World Health Organization and health experts, the SAR government needs to incorporate the prevention and control of epidemics and the management of infections into the new normal in the daily operations of society. The SAR government has always adopted a slack strategy to rapidly adjust anti-epidemic measures in response to the development of the epidemic. In view of the continuing severity of the epidemic, the SAR government believes that it is necessary to continue relevant social distancing measures.
The SAR government strongly urges citizens to continue to stay at home as much as possible, reduce unnecessary outings, reduce eating out, and avoid unnecessary social activities including private gatherings, fight the epidemic together, and do not relax, thereby reducing community transmission and even cutting off the chain of community transmission. Maintaining personal and environmental hygiene at all times is the key to preventing personal infection, preventing the spread of the virus in the community, and alleviating the current heavy burden on the medical system.
A spokesperson for the Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government said that taking into account the latest public health risk assessments, especially recent cases that have shown higher risks associated with activities involving no masks and different social activities, they believe that it is necessary to continue in the Hong Kong law. The social distancing measures implemented under Chapter 599F, Chapter 599G and Chapter 599I include requiring catering businesses to stop serving dine-in during designated hours, continue to close relevant premises, and require anyone to wear a mask at all times when entering or in any public place . (Finish)