HONG KONG, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection (CHP) reported 42 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, including 34 local cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1,365.
Among the 42 new infections, 23 people were related to the residential care home for the elderly outbreak cluster, nine were related to cases confirmed earlier, and two with unknown sources of infection. The rest are imported cases.
Secretary for Food and Health of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government Sophia Chan told a press briefing Thursday that epidemic preventive measures in Hong Kong will be tightened.
The number of people in the restaurant cannot exceed 60 percent of the total number of seats and the upper limit of people per table is eight. The same seating rate limit applies to bars and nightclubs while the number of people per table is lowered to four, according to the tightened measures.
As for gym rooms, party rooms and karaoke bars, each room can accommodate to the most eight people, Chan said, adding that theses measures will take effect on July 11 and are tentatively scheduled for 14 days.
According to Hong Kong Hospital Authority, as of Thursday, a total of 1,175 patients with confirmed or probable infections have been discharged, while 149 confirmed patients are currently being hospitalized.
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