Virus restrictions could be eased gradually, expert says

The chairman of the Medical Association's advisory committee on communicable diseases says Hong Kong can begin carefully easing social distancing rules as the coronavirus situation is stabilising, RTHK reports.
Dr Leung Chi-chiu made the comments today after the city did not report more patients Sunday, the third time in a week.

The government announced last week that a raft of social distancing measures, including a ban on most gatherings of more than four people, would stay in place until at least May 7.

Leung also said that schools could reopen as soon as next month for the first time since the Lunar New Year holiday in January.

"I think schools can resume classes – either morning session or afternoon session but not the whole day of school – at any time after we have the DSEs," Leung said, referring to the delayed Diploma of Secondary Education exams, which run until late May.

"We may consider partial resumption of our schools, step by step."

However Leung said it was too early to consider relaxing quarantine arrangements for travelers from the mainland, as the virus is continuing to circulate in some provinces.

All new arrivals are required to spend 14 days in home quarantine.

The mainland reported three new coronavirus cases on Sunday, two of which were imported, as well as 25 new asymptomatic cases.