The Government today appealed to the public to properly maintain social distancing at all times and support its temporary measures.

To control the spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, the Government has put in place two regulations.

Under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Requirement & Directions) (Business & Premises) Regulation, two directions concerning operations of catering businesses and scheduled premises commenced at 6pm on March 28 for 14 days.

As of midnight, Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) staff inspected 3,200 catering business premises and offered about 280 reminders.

Additionally, about 100 inspections to cooked food and light refreshment hawker stalls and some 1,500 inspections to cooked food and light refreshment market stalls were conducted with about 110 reminders offered.

Police inspected 22 bars and conducted a joint inspection with the FEHD to check another 19 bars. No violations were observed.

The force also handled 278 reports on non-compliance with the relevant directions and gave 55 verbal warnings.

The Tobacco & Alcohol Control Office inspected 22 bars and verbal advice was given to six premises that failed to wholly comply with the relevant requirements.

Inspections to other venues such as about 110 places of public entertainment including cinemas, over 20 bathhouses, five public skating rinks, 295 clubhouses and 100 amusement games centres were conducted by various departments and no violation of the relevant requirements was found.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the Prevention & Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation, group gatherings with more than four people in public places are prohibited with effect from midnight on March 29 for 14 days.

Police have stepped up patrols to remind members of the public to comply with the requirements of the regulation.

As at midnight, Police handled 188 reports on non-compliance of the relevant directions and gave 24 warnings.

The Government strongly urged members of the public to be self-disciplined and abide by the law.

They should go out less, avoid social activities and maintain proper social distancing as much as possible.