Respiratory medicine specialist Leung Chi-chiu said the government should look into limiting the number of people allowed into shopping malls and popular outing spots during holidays, as the number of coronavirus cases is decreasing at a slower rate than during previous waves.
Hong Kong recorded 41 new infections on Monday, including 38 locally-transmitted infections, of which 11 had unknown origins.
Leung said on RTHK on Monday that the government should also look at tightening mask-wearing regulations in outdoor places, but he cautioned against extreme policies as it would be counter-productive and negatively impact the economy.
Meanwhile, residents and visitors at three more housing estate buildings were ordered to undergo compulsory coronavirus testing on Monday.
People who had stayed for more than two hours at King Tao House, King Lam Estate in Tseung Kwan O, Tower 7 of Metro Harbour View in Tai Kok Tsui, or Kit Yat House in Yat Tung (II) Estate had to get tested as the buildings recorded two or more unrelated coronavirus cases in the past 14 days.
The government announced on Friday that 15 Lunar New Year fairs and the Che Kung Festival Fair would be cancelled.
A spokesperson from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) said that the fairs were axed as there was still a risk of the pandemic rebounding.
The government would make alternative arrangements with farmers to help them sell festive flowers. One proposal was to allow for the selling of flowers at public rental housing estates.
‘Social-distancing’
The Labour Department urged foreign domestic workers over the weekend to comply with anti-epidemic rules in popular gathering spots.
The government said they sent out officers to broadcast announcements in various languages, as well as handing out leaflets to domestic workers in locations such as Central and Mong Kok on their days off.
It marks the second weekend in a row that the government appealed to foreign domestic workers.
On the other hand, huge crowds were seen at malls over the weekend.
According to reports from StandNews, Lee Tung Avenue in Wan Chai was packed on Sunday, but no officers were seen at the area to enforce social distancing measures.
Under the current rules, group gatherings in public places are limited to two people.
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