The government on Friday said it will tighten testing requirements for people attending banquets, as well as staff working at regulated premises, including hair salons and sports venues, as Hong Kong recorded 7,665 new local Covid cases.

Speaking at a press briefing, health secretary Lo Chung-mau warned that at this rate of increase, the number of new infections could soon double every two weeks and impose an even heavier burden on the public healthcare system.

Currently, 2,324 Covid patients are being treated in hospital, including 13 under intensive care.

Authorities also reported seven Covid-related deaths.

The health minister said there’s a need to protect vulnerable people, including the elderly population.

Therefore, he said authorities have already ordered staff at care homes to do a PCR test every other day.

He added that those aged 70 or above, who haven't had two jabs, should go to isolation facilities.

The government will also extend the testing requirements for people going to bars or pubs to those attending banquets.

From Sunday, they must present a negative rapid antigen test done within the past 24 hours, or a negative PCR test result within 48 hours.

Meanwhile, workers of all regulated premises, such as gyms, beauty parlours and mahjong halls, will be required to undergo a rapid test every three days.

Lo said law-enforcement will also be stepped up to make sure confirmed patients, as well as those under medical surveillance and people under compulsory testing orders comply with the relevant rules.

The health chief was asked why Hong Kong is tightening Covid rules while other places are relaxing theirs.

“I’ve repeatedly emphasised that we are different from other countries,” he said.

“We are glad that we are different from other countries, in a sense that, for example, UK has suffered a very high casualty during the Covid pandemic… We certainly don’t want to copy that.”

Lo also noted that a further opening up of the border is “not a realistic option at this point”.

There were 170 imported cases for the day.

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USEFUL LINKS
General Covid-19 situation: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/
Community Clinics for Covid-19 patients: https://bit.ly/3a4BZFE
RAT reporting platform: https://www.chp.gov.hk/ratp/
Vaccination programme: https://www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/sen/
Vaccination pass scheme: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/vaccine-pass.html
Hotline for Covid-positive patients: 1836 115