Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan today announced the further tightening of social distancing measures starting November 26, including the closure of bars or pubs.

Other venues that will need to be closed include bathhouses and clubs or nightclubs, while live performances and dancing in meeting rooms or function rooms of clubhouses must not take place. The measures will also limit the number of people participating in a banquet in catering premises to 40.

Speaking to the media, Prof Chan said it was necessary to further tighten social distancing measures in view of the drastic worsening of the COVID-19 epidemic situation and the large outbreak cluster caused by group gathering activities in indoor premises.

The measures will take effect for a period of seven days until December 2.

For hotels and guesthouses, restrictions will also be imposed on gathering activities and infection control measures will be strengthened, including no more than four people in a guest room, no more than eight people in a suite with more than one bedroom and no more than 20 people during a religious or cultural ritual in relation to a wedding.

Operators of hotels must arrange for people under quarantine to be separated from those not under quarantine, and must ensure that people under quarantine cannot leave their rooms and cannot receive visitors.

The Government will review the various measures in place from time to time and make suitable adjustments taking into account all relevant factors.