People gather outside a bar in Hong Kong on Jan 6, 2022.
(PETER PARKS / AFP)
HONG KONG – The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department ordered two bars to close for 14 days over violations of social distancing measures against COVID-19.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, the FEHD said they also initiated prosecution actions against two pubs and six other catering premises during an inspection of 537 establishments on Friday and Saturday.
An FEHD spokesman said they will stringently enforce social distancing measures, including the requirements for those with the red code and amber code under the Vaccine Pass, in bars and catering establishments
Given the gradual deterioration of the pandemic situation in the city, an FEHD spokesman said they will stringently enforce social distancing measures, including the requirements for those with the red code and amber code under the Vaccine Pass, in bars and catering establishments.
“(Their) operators and the public are urged not to defy the law, but to work together to reduce the risk of virus transmission in the community,” the spokesman said.
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The FEHD and the police issued fixed penalty notices to 48 customers and staff members of pubs and other catering premises.
The FEHD noted that persons who are not wearing a mask when they are not eating or drinking at tables inside catering premises are liable to a fixed penalty of HK$5,000 (US$537).
On Saturday, Hong Kong reported 8,457 new COVID-19 cases, comprising 8,225 local infections cases and 232 imported ones.