HK bans three more types of venues
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government ordered three more types of entertainment venues to close for 14 days while reporting 51 new cases of the novel coronavirus, with the youngest patient an infant only 40 days old.
Starting from 6pm on Wednesday, Hong Kong’s karaoke lounges, mahjong parlours and nightclubs were required to shut down for 14 days to contain the pandemic.
The government also regulated the city’s beauty parlours, massage parlours and clubhouses to strengthen Covid-19 prevention measures.
People have to wear face masks in these premises and get their temperatures checked at entrances.
The places were also ordered to offer hand sanitiser.
Offenders of the two regulations face a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment and a fine of HK$50,000 (RM28,000).
The regulations came after all seven patrons at a karaoke gathering and an employee at a beauty parlour were confirmed to be infected with the virus.
In addition to five cases confirmed earlier, two more people who had visited a karaoke lounge in Tsim Sha Tsui on March 24 were also confirmed on Wednesday. The same day, a practitioner at a beauty parlour in Tsim Sha Tsui was found with the virus.
The beautician served a customer who later was also confirmed to be infected. The beautician wore a face mask but the customer did not.
Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the regulation had been put into effect as those places were infection risks.
She explained that it might be hard for customers to wear face masks all the time in beauty parlours.
Yet the service providers must do so to minimise the risk of infection, she stressed.