Restaurant workers tested for COVID-19 ahead of relaxed restrictions

On the final day of the Chinese New Year, workers from the catering industry headed to community testing centres to get tested for COVID-19.

On Feb 10, Sophia Chan Siu-Chee, secretary for Food & Health said in a press conference that restaurants may be allowed to extend their business hours until 10 p.m starting Feb 18 after the Chinese New Year Holidays, if numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to go down. 

In addition to extended operating hours, restaurants can allow four people to dine in per table restaurant staff test for covid every 14 days and the establishment must use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile application so customers can keep record of their visit. 

All community test centers in Hong Kong have been fully booked on days prior to Feb 18th. 

People wait outside Henry G Leong Yau Ma Tei Community Centre to get tested for Covid on the last day of Chinese New Year.

“My manager told us all to get tested as soon as possible so we can go to work,” said Monica Rai, 28, waitress. She was at Henry G Leong Yau Ma Tei Community Centre with two other co-workers.  

Regarding the LeaveHomeSafe app, MsRai said that her workplace does not enforce it on customers.

 “It’s useless,” she said. “Customers walk right past the QR code and managers are also indifferent.” 

Restaurants that do not comply with the new regulations will have to shut down for 14 days and the restaurant license owners may be fined a maximum amount of HK$50,000 and face imprisonment for  six months.