Hong Kong to Reopen Gyms, Massage Parlors as Cases Ease

(Bloomberg) -- Hong Kong said it will allow gyms, massage parlors and some sports venues to reopen beginning Friday, as virus cases drop off from record highs.

In a further relaxation of rules, dine-in services at restaurants will be extended by one hour, to 10 p.m., said Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan in a briefing Wednesday. A cap of two people per table will remain in effect at restaurants, while public gatherings will be limited to two people for another seven days.

Hong Kong has been gradually easing social-distancing measures in the Asian financial hub as it brings its biggest Covid-19 outbreak under control. It announced earlier this week the reopening of schools in phases. The government is also in the midst of a Beijing-backed campaign to get everyone in the city tested, with about 745,000 residents registered for it as of Wednesday.

Hong Kong, which saw daily case numbers top 100 as recently as a month ago, reported eight new virus cases on Wednesday, all of which were locally transmitted, with four of them having an unknown origin.

Gym Risks

While Hong Kong is reopening gyms in an effort to improve residents’ physical and mental health, masks will still be required during exercising. Questions have been raised over the possible risks to wearing masks while exercising, but one health expert dismissed concerns over the policy.

“For low-to-moderate exercise in healthy persons, it should not pose too much problem,” said Leung Chi-chiu, former chairman of the Hong Kong Medical Association’s advisory committee on communicable diseases. “Suitably reducing exercise intensity may help those who have problems.”

The government last week relaxed mask-wearing at country parks and for exercising outdoors, but “in situations where social distancing cannot be met, people still need to wear masks during exercise,” Leung said.

Nicholas Thomas, associate professor in health security at the City University of Hong Kong, said a more important issue is the hygiene within the gyms as well as the number of people who will be allowed to exercise.

“A gym operating at full capacity, where masks are being worn, offers far more opportunities for viral transmission than a small table of diners without masks,” he said.

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