In light of the recent COVID-19 situation, various departments today announced the latest arrangements for public services.

The Social Welfare Department's units which provide direct services to the public, including social security field units, will continue with their normal services. But services that may cause the gathering of people and increase the risk of infection will be suspended.

For welfare services subsidised by the department, all aided childcare centres, day care centres or units for the elderly, sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres, integrated vocational training centres and day activity centres will suspend their service delivery from July 15.

These centres will remain open depending on the situation to serve those with special needs.

For other service units, some of them will operate as usual while some will provide limited services. People may call the department's hotline 2343 2255 for enquiries.

Meanwhile, the Home Affairs Department announced that all community halls and centres, except when being used as temporary night heat shelters, will be closed until further notice.

The Environmental Protection Department's public facilities, including EcoPark visitor centre, T•PARK visitor centre and T•SPA, WEEE•PARK visitor centre, and environmental resource centres and facilities at restored landfills will stop services. Visitor and education programmes at Community Green Stations will be cancelled.

The Fire & Ambulance Services Education Centre & Museum under the Fire Services Department will also be closed and all public education programmes will be cancelled.

Additionally, 10 venues of the Antiquities & Monuments Office, the Planning Department's City Gallery, the Water Supplies Department's H2OPE Centre, the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department's Gallery and Education Path, the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department's Health Education Exhibition & Resource Centre and the Communication Resource Unit of the Centre for Food Safety, the Narcotics Division's Jockey Club Drug InfoCentre, along with the Housing Authority's outdoor and indoor sports, recreational and public facilities will be temporarily closed.

The Judiciary also announced that court hearings and registry businesses will generally proceed and that enhanced social distancing measures, including capacity limits, are being implemented.

Click here for the latest public service arrangements.