We're offering some clarity on the current Covid-19 social distancing rules in Hong Kong, breaking down exactly what you can and can't do in the city
As the epidemic situation in Hong Kong has become more stable and the vaccination rate is increasing steadily, the government announced on May 3 that social distancing rules will be further eased. According to chief executive Carrie Lam, unless there is a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases, the three-stage relaxation plan, which was originally announced on March 21, 2022, will go ahead as planned.
Following the first stage of relaxation that took effect on April 21, 2022, the second phase will allow venues including beaches, pools and bars to reopen starting from May 5, 2022. Restaurants will also be allowed to open until midnight at a later date, with the number of diners allowed per table raised to eight from four. Masks will no longer be mandatory during outdoor exercise too.
Continue reading to stay up to date on exactly what you can do in Hong Kong.
Read in Traditional Chinese here: 香港禁晚市堂食、英美等8國禁飛 一文看清擴大疫苗氣泡涵蓋範圍
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This article was originally published on July 14, 2020 and was updated on April 4, 2022.
Group gatherings
Update: On May 3, 2022, the government announced that restrictions on social gatherings will continue to be relaxed further starting from May 5. The group gathering limit will be raised to eight people, from the current four. Individuals are no longer required to wear masks at country parks or while exercising outdoors.
Group gatherings in public places are currently capped at four, effective from April 21, 2022. Wearing a face mask is also still mandatory in public settings, this includes on public transport, in shops and supermarkets and in building lobbies. If you're looking to exercise outdoors––be it going for a run or a hike––and in country parks, wearing a mask is also compulsory.
The maximum penalty for those gathering in public spaces or for "any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering; organises a prohibited group gathering; owns, controls or operates the place of the gathering; and knowingly allows the gathering" remains at HK$25,000. The government has also stated that individuals who participate in a prohibited group gathering may be fined HK$5,000, an increase from the previous HK$2,000.
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