Beauty and massage parlors have been ordered to close for two weeks starting tomorrow while the ban on gatherings of more than four people has been extended for two more weeks.
Beauty and massage parlors have been added to the nine types of establishments earlier ordered closed - with the ban now extended to April 23. These places include gaming centers, fitness centers, bathhouses, karaoke lounges, party rooms, nightclubs and mahjong parlors.
Gaming centers, bathhouses, gyms and cinemas were ordered to close from March 28, while bars and pubs were closed from Friday for two weeks.
The ban on gatherings of more than four people in public places and social distancing rules in restaurants will stay in effect until April 23.Although people cooperated and enforcement was smooth on the whole, "some penalty tickets have been issued as were uncooperative," Chan said.
She said police cracked down on two bars which contravened the regulations and sold alcohol."Police have patrolled restaurants 27,000 times and given out 1,600 reminders," Chan said.
Beauty industry veterans said there was not even a hint of the shutdown orders during a meeting with the government on Tuesday night.Nelson Ip Sai-hung, founding chairman of the Federation of Beauty Industry, said the communication and trust between the industry and the government is weak. He added the government did not provide a clear standard for closure.
However, Amy Hui Wai-fung, chairwoman of the beauty and fitness professionals general union, said the government gave 10,000 parlors sufficient time to close.Noting that business has dropped 90 percent since the epidemic, Hui said she hoped the government can provide subsidies to employees and self-employed workers.
Meanwhile, Institution of Dining Art chairman Ray Chui said restaurants cannot see a way out and that he is worried the industry will dry up.Dine-in customers have dropped to 20 to 30 percent since the restrictions came into effect.
More takeaway orders did not compensate for the loss of business as online takeaway platforms have charged more commission, he said.Separately, McDonald's has resumed dine-in services after 6pm last night, but will not accept diners with fever or without face masks, as well as those under mandatory quarantine.
Hong Kong also yesterday stepped up medical surveillance at the airport and land boundary control point. All arrivals at the airport must undergo a Covid-19 test.Arrivals from Britain will have to take a shuttle bus from the airport to the temporary test center at the nearby AsiaWorld-Expo, and stay there for at least around eight hours until the test results of their deep throat saliva samples come back.
sophie.hui@singtaonewscorp.com
