The government has just announced that it will be ordering all of Hong Kong's bars, pubs, and clubs to close their doors for two weeks, starting on Friday, April 3, at exactly 6pm. The measure under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance comes in the wake of a flurry of new cases of COVID-19 have blighted the city, with over 60 cases connected to the bar and band cluster that contracted the disease in some of Hong Kong's drinking establishments. The new law will affect any establishment that is "exclusively or mainly used for the sale or supply of intoxicating liquors." This means that not only will bars, pubs and nightclubs be affected, but also clubhouses, these establishments must keep their doors closed until 5.59pm on April 17. Any establishment that will not comply with the new regulation will be filed a criminal offence and will be subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) also calls for the public to stay at home as much as possible, avoid social gatherings, and observe appropriate social distancing.