Public swimming pools to reopen Friday

Thirty-five public swimming pools will be reopened from April 2 with the number of users in swimming pools capped at 30 percent of the original capacity, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today.

In view of the city’s latest situation of COVID-19, the department said more leisure and cultural venues will reopen gradually starting tomorrow.

For cultural venues, the limit on the number of audience or users in each facility of the department’s performance venues will be relaxed tomorrow, with seating capacity to be increased from 50 to 75 percent of the original. Consecutive seats will also be limited to four.

All museums except the Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence will partially reopen their exhibition facilities and public programs from April 2, with admission quotas implemented to limit visitor flow.

The Hong Kong Science Museum and the Hong Kong Space Museum will apply admission by sessions.

The department also announced that all 32 small libraries will be reopened from April 3 and will implement special opening hours, while the opening hours of the Hong Kong Central Library and six other major public libraries will return to normal on April 7, along with the reference libraries within.

“Users of sports premises, swimming pools, performance venues, museums and public libraries are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code or register their name, contact number and the date and time of the visit before being allowed to enter for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found,” a department spokesman added.