Hong Kong plans to start the second phase of easing anti-COVID restrictions in the second half of May. This was announced on Tuesday at a press conference by the head of the executive branch of this special administrative region of China, Carrie Lam, reports TASS.

It is good to know that, more than three months after the fifth wave of the epidemic hit us hard in Hong Kong, she said.

Since April 21, cinemas, Disneyland, gyms, beauty salons, religious buildings, libraries, and museums have reopened in the city. They will be able to operate at 50% occupancy for vaccinated visitors. Restaurants have extended their opening hours from 18:00 to 22:00, and the public has been allowed to gather in groups of up to four people instead of the current two, while maintaining a strict mask regime.

Beaches, swimming pools, picnic areas and bars are expected to reopen in the second half of May, subject to favorable epidemic conditions.

In recent days, the number of new cases of coronavirus infection in Hong Kong has fallen below 500. At the peak of the epidemic, which occurred on March 9, this figure reached almost 59 thousand.