UPDATED Following an update on Tuesday February 16, the Hong Kong government introduced the latest social-distancing measures to take effect from Thursday. Providing there are no spikes in positive cases, dine in numbers are set to increase to four people per table. Restaurants are also required to comply with further infection-control measures. These include the need for all staff to be tested every 14 days, and restaurant guests must still use the LeaveHomeSafe tracing app.
Here is the summary below:
Restaurants/Caterers:
Extended opening hours will be allowed with outlets now able to offer dine-in services until 10PM.
Other measures to remain include:
1) All restaurants staff must undergo a test every two weeks
2) No more than four people may sit at a table
3) There must be a distance of 1.5m between tables or a partition may be used to separate tables
5) People must wear a mask when they are away from a table
6) Catering businesses must display the “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR code at the entrance or at an obvious position and enforce diners to register when arriving and leaving the premises
Bars/pubs
1) All bars/pubs remain closed.
Please see below for the formal announcement:
Catering Business
The relevant requirements include:
(a) A person must wear a mask at any time within any catering premises except when the person is consuming food or drink on the premises
(b) Body temperature screening on a person must be conducted before the person is allowed to enter the catering premises;
(c) Hand sanitisers must be provided at any catering premises for any person at the premises
(d)The number of customers at any catering premises at any one time must not exceed 50% of the normal seating capacity of the premises
(e) No more than four persons may be seated together at one table within any catering premises
(f) Tables available for use or being used by customers within any catering premises must be arranged in a way to ensure there is a distance of at least 1.5 metres or a partition which could serve as an effective buffer between one table and another table at the premises
(g) Increase of dine-in services for catering businesses may operate until 10PM whilst maintaining other infection control measures
(i) Persons responsible for carrying on catering businesses providing dine-in services and scheduled premises must apply for a “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR code from the Government and display the QR code obtained at the entrance of the premises or at a conspicuous position within two working days upon receipt of the QR code
(h) All bars or pubs, bath-houses, clubs or nightclubs must be closed
More details and the official press release from the HK Government are scheduled to be released tomorrow Thursday February 18.