Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration, said businesses in the city have been in hard times, the new move will hopefully contain the epidemic, allowing businesses to resume operations after the Lunar New Year holidays.

Any single Covid cases detected within buildings in Hong Kong, or having their sewage samples being tested positive for coronavirus will trigger compulsory testing.

Cheung also warned that guerrilla lockdowns may happen every day across districts before Lunar New Year in areas having more Covid cases, or buildings with poor hygiene.

“If we are able to contain the epidemic within this two weeks before the Lunar New Year holidays, it is likely that businesses can resume operations after the holidays, students can also return to school for face to face lessons soon,” said Cheung.

The current social distancing measures will also be extended for two weeks until February 17.

However, starting this Thursday, some outdoor sports premises in the city will reopen to allow members of the public to exercise, said Cheung. Users of these facilities will be required to use the “LeaveHomeSafe” app.

Meanwhile, education chief Kevin Yeung Yun-hung said if Hong Kong has seen no more significant outbreaks in the territory, face-to-face lessons may be able to resume after the LNY holidays, but on a half-day basis to lower the risk of infection from students having meals in school.