HONG KONG - Public services will return to normal starting next Monday (4/5/2020), when most civil servants will return to work in their offices. This was conveyed by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, as reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and the public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK).
According to Carrie Lam, most of the 180.000 government employees will stop working from home, and all public services will return to normal working hours. This policy was taken after Hong Kong noted that the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases had decreased significantly in recent weeks.
"The government has decided internally that we will resume public services next Monday," said Lam. "Public services are slowly starting again, and will return to normal operations next week," he said.
It was also reported that all libraries, museums and open spaces such as sports fields will also be reopened. However, Carrie Lam said that the lifting of other social restrictions would be carried out in stages, not all at once.
For two weeks Hong Kong reported the number of daily additions of Covid-19 infection cases in just single digits. Including, four days without additional cases.
The chief executive emphasized that there is a need to balance the impact on the economy and people's livelihoods with security and safety. He did not confirm whether he would extend rules on social distancing and restrictions on arrivals from mainland China, both of which expire on May 7.
"I want to emphasize there is a fluctuation in the number of cases," said Lam. "So, we can't completely lift these restrictions [at once], and can only do it gradually. We have to enforce these restrictions again if necessary, until a vaccine is found and some people are immune. Only then can we lower our guard, "he said. [DDHKNews / source: RTHK / SCMP]
