香港でコロナ流行「第４波」、厳格な規制を再導入へ

【香港ＡＦＰ＝時事】香港で、新型コロナウイルスの流行第4波が広がっているとみられている。政府は30日、感染拡大が始まって以降最も厳しいレベルの規制を再導入する方針を発表した。（写真は香港の飲食店のアクリル板で仕切られたテーブルで食事を取る客ら）
　人口７５０万人の香港で、同ウイルス感染症による死者は１０９人。これまでの感染防止策により、累計感染者数は６０００人余りに抑えられているが、ここ数日は１日当たりの新規感染者数が１００人を超えている。
　林鄭月娥（キャリー・ラム）行政長官は記者団に対し、「新型コロナウイルス感染症（ＣＯＶＩＤ-１９）の新たな波が香港に非常に急速に広がっている」と述べ、１２月２日から新たな規制を適用すると発表した。
　既に学校は休校、バーやナイトクラブにも閉鎖命令が出ているが、２日からはカラオケ店や遊園地、マージャン店などのほとんどの娯楽施設も閉鎖対象となる。フィットネスジムと美容室は引き続き営業可能だが、これまでよりも厳しい人数制限が課される。
　当局は、規制違反者に科す罰金を、現在の２０００香港ドル（約２万７０００円）からさらに引き上げることに加え、市民から違反通報を受け付けるホットラインの開設を計画している。
　最近の「スーパースプレッダー」事例の一つは、富裕層に人気のナイトクラブで発生。林鄭長官は、大勢がマスク不着用でパーティーに参加し、密接して踊っていたとして、「こういうことがあるから罰金を引き上げる必要がある」と苦言を呈した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/12/01-08:30）

Hong Kong reimposed social distancing measures at some of their strictest levels in the city since the start of the coronavirus pandemic on Monday, as authorities battle a fourth wave of infections.
The financial hub has maintained bans on large group gatherings for much of year and has shuttered various industries when cases have spiked.
The measures have helped keep infections to just over 6,000 in the city of 7.5 million with 109 deaths.
But daily cases have risen above 100 in recent days, prompting authorities to usher in stricter measures similar to those seen during waves in the spring and summer.
This new wave of Covid-19 has hit Hong Kong very quickly, chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters, adding the new restrictions would take effect from Wednesday.
The city's 170,000 civil servants will work from home unless their job is considered essential and Lam asked private businesses to follow suit where possible.
The restrictions on public gatherings will be reduced to two people maximum, down from four, while restaurants will only be able to serve a maximum of two people per table.
Schools, bars and nightclubs have already been ordered to close.
But the new restrictions now include most other entertainment venues, such as karaoke rooms, amusement parks and mahjong parlours.
Gyms and beauty parlours can remain open but with stricter limits on people per venue or class.
Lam said fatigue had set in among Hong Kongers, a community that took the coronavirus seriously from the get go.
Authorities plan to increase the current HK$2,000 ($260) spot fines and will launch a hotline for residents to report social distancing breaches.
Police will also play a more proactive role in stopping breaches and going after private venues hosting parties or large gatherings, she added.
One of the super-spreader events that helped caused the current wave was linked to ballroom dancing nights popular with many well-heeled residents.
They went out in groups, they did not wear masks, they continued to enjoy themselves in parties, Lam said of the recent breaches.
They danced in close contact... So we need to raise the fine.