No new COVID-19 cases in HK, distancing rules might extend

Hong Kong, May 18 (IANS) Hong Kong recorded no new COVID-19 cases on Monday, according to a government source, as officials planned to extend the city’s social-distancing measures.

With no new infections, the number of confirmed cases remained at 1,055, with four related deaths, reports the South China Morning Post newspaper.

On Sunday, Hong Kong recorded three imported cases from Pakistan, after three locally transmitted cases broke a streak of 23 days without anyone becoming infected in the city.

Hong Kong is expected to keep in place most social-distancing measures for another two weeks, including limiting public gatherings to eight people, given the risk of a new local cluster from unknown sources, the South China Morning Post has learned.

But authorities may slightly relax some rules, such as by allowing larger gatherings for religious purposes or reopening karaoke lounges, provided enough precautions are taken, according to two sources familiar with the situation.

–IANS

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