Hong Kong reimposes social distancing as virus cases spike

Hong Kong reimposed social distancing measures on Monday to combat a sudden spike in coronavirus infections, banning more than four people from gathering in public and requiring passengers to wear face masks on public transport or risk a US$650 fine.

Some businesses will also be closed and restaurants restricted over when they can serve diners.

The finance hub was one of the first places to be struck by the coronavirus when it emerged from central China.

The city has had impressive success in tackling the disease with just over 1,400 infections and eight deaths. In the last two months, local transmissions had all but ended.

However, in the last two weeks a cluster of 180 local infections has emerged and officials believe the disease is spreading undetected in the densely populated city of 7.5 million.

On Monday, city leader Carrie Lam announced fresh anti-virus measures.

Alongside a ban on more than four people gathering in public, restaurants will only be able to serve takeaway food from 6:00 pm to 5:00 am, however they can still serve those eating in for breakfast and lunch.

Twelve types of businesses including bars, pubs, gyms, beauty salons, nightclubs and karaoke venues must close.

Hong Kongers have widely adopted face masks to deal with the pandemic but on Monday authorities made wearing face coverings on public transport mandatory for the first time.

Those who refuse to wear masks face a HK$5,000 ($650) fine.

"This is a time for tightening," Lam told reporters, adding the measures would be reviewed every seven days.

The announcement is a new body blow to the city's economy, which was already mired in recession before the pandemic hit.

Last year Hong Kong was battered by both the increasingly aggressive US-China trade war and seven straight months of huge and often violent pro-democracy protests.

Health secretary Sophia Chan said officials were trying to "strike a balance" between social distancing and keeping businesses open.

Earlier in the day officials announced a 95-year-old woman had died of coronavirus, the city's eighth victim.

Police also said a South Korean man who tested positive for the virus jumped out of a moving minibus as he was being taken to compulsory quarantine.

Police later detained the man.

© 2020 AFP