Hong Kong authorities announced on Friday that the city’s airport would suspend transit flights from about 150 countries and high-risk areas due to the coronavirus for a month, in a move that is intensifying the isolation of the global financial center.
It is noted that last week, authorities banned incoming flights from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the United States, including transit flights.
At the same time, state leader Carrie Lam announced that social restrictions will be extended until the holidays for the New Lunar Year, in early February, a period when shopping, celebrations and family gatherings are traditionally increased.
“I know this will disappoint a lot of people,” Lam told reporters, but added that “the coronavirus is not yet under control.”
To help businesses survive the new blow of the extension of the restrictions, Lam announced that the government will launch $ 3.57 billion ($ 459 million) in relief measures focusing on support for activities that have ceased operations.
It is noted that the decommissioning measures that apply to about 15 types of venues, such as bars and clubs, cinemas, gyms and beauty salons, normally expired next Thursday, but are now extended for two additional weeks. The restaurant will also be closed after 6.00 pm. Primary schools and kindergartens will also remain closed.
Lam stressed that if there are no further cases, the restrictive measures will be lifted gradually after the holidays.
Meanwhile, strict quarantine on aircraft crews has severely curtailed freight flights and hit the city as one of the busiest passenger hubs in the world.
Authorities also said Hong Kong was expected to face a shortage of goods and higher product prices soon.
Gary Lau, president of the Hong Kong Freight and Logistics Association, said the cost of logistics would increase by 40% in the coming weeks, with premium food, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals and e-commerce products in place. bigger blow.
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Source From: Capital
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