Hong Kong has seen recent COVID clusters suspected to originate from partygoers in the Central district. Cases are now going over 500 per day, the highest in six weeks. With that, rumors have been circulating about whether this will lead to a retightening of COVID rules. Chief Executive Carrie Lam has come out to say, though, referencing her last day in office, that “arrival requirements and social distancing measures will be maintained until June 30.” So, in other words, while there will be no easing, there won’t be any tightening.
This is even as there has been talk of President Xi visiting Hong Kong next month to join celebrations of 25 years of Chinese rule of the city, but SCMP reported that people familiar with the matter have said that Lam and the incoming John Lee were prepared to isolate in preparation for this possible visit.
Key comments:
“I can say with certainty that arrival requirements and social distancing measures will be maintained until June 30. In other words, there is no immediate need to tighten restrictions but there won’t be any relaxation,” said Lam. “We have been in an epidemic situation for over two years, I believe that most Hong Kong people would agree they need to see a path to recovery.”
