Hong Kong leader to reveal plans this week for easing social-distancing curbs and returning to schools as number of cases falls below 2,000

Chief Executive Carrie Lam reminds residents to observe social distancing, test themselves as more people venture outside amid recent good weather

Housing complexes used as isolation facilities could be made residential areas again, she says, but authorities will need to review supply of quarantine rooms first

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City leader Carrie Lam has said plans to resume in-person teaching at schools will be unveiled later in the week. Photo: Handout

Published: 12:40pm, 10 Apr 2022Updated: 10:21pm, 10 Apr 2022

The government will announce further details this week on easing social-distancing rules, Hong Kong’s leader has revealed, as the daily number of Covid-19 cases fell to a nearly two-month low.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Sunday said authorities would soon provide more information on relaxing the restrictions, as well as the arrangements for resuming in-person classes, including whether students would need to undergo daily rapid antigen tests (RAT).

“The weather is good during the weekend,” she said. “As we can see, there were more people on the streets compared to the previous weeks. I hope residents can observe social distancing and test themselves frequently.”

Hong Kong on Sunday confirmed 1,921 coronavirus cases, of which 1,033 were uncovered using RAT and the remaining 888 were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. Of the latest cases, 18 were imported. Sunday’s caseload was the lowest since February 15, when the city reported 1,619 infections.

Health officials also reported 65 Covid-related deaths, including 12 backlogged fatalities.

One of the backlogged deaths included a 31-year-old male who received two jabs and sought medical treatment at a private hospital in mid-October last year after suffering from a fever and chest discomfort. He was diagnosed with pericardial myocarditis.

The man collapsed in his home in March this year, and could not be resuscitated by medical staff. A forensic investigation revealed that he had tested positive for the virus.