HK steps up anti-pandemic efforts amid untraceable cases

Hong Kong, Nov 15 (IANS) Hong Kong has stepped up anti-pandemic efforts with strengthened social distancing measures as untraceable Covid-19 cases were reported for a fourth straight day.Sophia Chan, secretary for food and health, said at a press conference on Saturday that the city government will tighten social distancing measures to prevent the fourth round of the pandemic outbreak, reports Xinhua news agency.For 11 days starting Monday, the number of customers at a table will be limited to four for restaurants and two for bars, and entertainment venues including bars and swimming pools can only open at half of the capacity. As for hotels, there should be no more than four customers in a room.Besides, the government started to test all visitors from foreign countries and put them in mandatory quarantine for 14 days in hotels since November 13. Starting November 23, visitors entering via land borders, who want to be exempted from the quarantine, should hold negative test results for the coronavirus.Hong Kong's Centre for Health Protection (CHP) reported eight new confirmed cases on Saturday, which increased the total tally to 5,444.According to Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, 112 patients are still being treated in hospitals, including six in critical condition.The death toll stood at 108.
--IANS ksk/