Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said most civil servants will gradually return to work from May 4, although the government had not yet decided whether to ease travel and social distancing restrictions that are due to expire next week.
The global financial hub reported no new coronavirus infections for a second day on Monday, bringing some relief to a city whose economy has been battered by the disease that came on the heels of crippling anti-government protests. Looking to ease the way out of a lockdown, Lam said outdoor sports facilities, libraries and museums would also reopen from next Monday although they would still be subject to a ban on gatherings of more than four people.
The government said last week that social distancing and travel measures would be extended until at least May 7. A key consideration for Lam will also be whether to ease cross-border travel restrictions with mainland China, where the virus is believed to have originated and is now largely under control. Joining cities around the world in the battle to halt the virus, Hong Kong has shut schools and many people work from home, although some have slowly started to return to offices in the past couple of weeks. It’s rare to see anyone not wearing a surgical mask in the city. Hong Kong has confirmed 1,038 cases and four deaths since the outbreak began in January.
