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Friday, Apr 26, 2024
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Hong Kong’s 4 new Covid-19 cases all traced as larger tours, weddings resume
Tour operator says it has seen significant interest but will be operating some trips at a loss.
Hong Kong’s four new coronavirus infections on Friday were all traceable, as larger tour groups and wedding ceremonies resumed in the city.
The latest infections pushed the city’s Covid-19 case tally to 5,284, with 105 related deaths.
Friday’s cases involved three imported infections from Pakistan, India and the United States, while the sole local patient, a 29-year-old man living in Tai Wan Nam on Lamma Island, was linked to a previous imported case.
On Thursday the city also recorded mostly imported cases, including nine on the same Nepal Airlines flight, prompting health authorities to ban the carrier from entering the city for the second time in a month.
n a relaxation of social-distancing measures announced earlier this week and taking effect on Friday, up to 30 people are now allowed in local tour groups, and as many as 50 for wedding ceremonies.
Travel agency WWPKG’s chief executive Yuen Chun-ning said his company had received more than 100 inquiries a day, and about 50 to 60 registrations, since the rules change was revealed, adding there would be a local tour of more than 10 people on Saturday.
“The response has been great, but it’s nothing compared to what we had for foreign tours before,” he told a morning radio programme. “Now we will start a trip with just 10 guests, sometimes operating at a loss.”
He said one-off, free testing for tour guides provided by the government would begin next week.
“Ideally of course we should test tour guides every time before they go on a trip, but I understand there are concerns about timing and costs,” Yuen said, adding coach drivers should also be included in the scheme.
Yuen said the industry was ready to welcome guests back on a large scale, as it had strengthened infection controls through measures such as providing sanitisers on coaches and limiting guests to sightseeing in groups of four at attractions.
The latest infections pushed the city’s Covid-19 case tally to 5,284, with 105 related deaths.
Friday’s cases involved three imported infections from Pakistan, India and the United States, while the sole local patient, a 29-year-old man living in Tai Wan Nam on Lamma Island, was linked to a previous imported case.
On Thursday the city also recorded mostly imported cases, including nine on the same Nepal Airlines flight, prompting health authorities to ban the carrier from entering the city for the second time in a month.
n a relaxation of social-distancing measures announced earlier this week and taking effect on Friday, up to 30 people are now allowed in local tour groups, and as many as 50 for wedding ceremonies.
Travel agency WWPKG’s chief executive Yuen Chun-ning said his company had received more than 100 inquiries a day, and about 50 to 60 registrations, since the rules change was revealed, adding there would be a local tour of more than 10 people on Saturday.
“The response has been great, but it’s nothing compared to what we had for foreign tours before,” he told a morning radio programme. “Now we will start a trip with just 10 guests, sometimes operating at a loss.”
He said one-off, free testing for tour guides provided by the government would begin next week.
“Ideally of course we should test tour guides every time before they go on a trip, but I understand there are concerns about timing and costs,” Yuen said, adding coach drivers should also be included in the scheme.
Yuen said the industry was ready to welcome guests back on a large scale, as it had strengthened infection controls through measures such as providing sanitisers on coaches and limiting guests to sightseeing in groups of four at attractions.
