Hong Kong to extend travel curbs until after Lunar New Year to stem Omicron | Travel - Hindustan Times
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Hong Kong to extend travel curbs until after Lunar New Year to stem Omicron

Bloomberg | | Posted by Zarafshan Shiraz
Jan 15, 2022 08:06 PM IST

The Covid-19 travel extension or the ban on bars, beaches, gyms and cinemas, as well as dining-in after 6 pm to curb Omicron spread will be in place throughout the Lunar New Year holiday and continue until Feb. 3

Hong Kong extended social distancing measures and the city’s flight ban on eight countries to stem an outbreak of the infectious omicron variant, while announcing economic relief to help businesses cope.

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, walk on a street in Hong Kong. Hong Kong International Airport said that it would ban passengers from over 150 countries and territories from transiting in the city for a month, as it sought to stem the transmission of the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus  (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of the coronavirus, walk on a street in Hong Kong. Hong Kong International Airport said that it would ban passengers from over 150 countries and territories from transiting in the city for a month, as it sought to stem the transmission of the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus  (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

The ban on bars, beaches, gyms and cinemas, as well as dining-in after 6 p.m., will continue until Feb. 3, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a regular press briefing Friday. The Asian financial hub will also extend its passenger flight ban on Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US, until Feb. 4, she added.

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Hong Kong Faces Worst of Both Worlds as Omicron Ruins Covid Zero

The government will release HK$3.57 billion ($459 million) to help the economy cope with the stringent virus measures that particularly impact the retail and tourism sectors, Lam said. That marks the fifth round of support from the city’s anti-pandemic fund.

The city’s economy is coming under pressure once again, having just rebounded after two previous years of contraction. Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg Economics have already cut their growth forecasts for this year as Hong Kong’s strict adherence to a Covid Zero approach means a delayed opening of its borders with China and elsewhere. Financial Secretary Paul Chan, who is set to give his annual budget speech next month, said in a blog post last week that the economy will take a hit from the outbreak of omicron-variant virus cases in the city.

The new virus restrictions started last week and were originally set to last for 14 days. The extension means they’ll be in place throughout the Lunar New Year holiday that runs for the first three days of February. 

The move will put a significant damper on the celebrations, which often involve families gathering together in large groups for dinner at local restaurants. 

 

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
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