Hong Kong Scraps Flights, Shuts Bars, Gyms on Omicron Threat
- Lam says strict steps are needed in race to stop viral spread
- Moves come fast as Hong Kong faces a handful of omicron cases
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Hong Kong is imposing strict new virus control measures for the first time in almost a year as the highly transmissible omicron variant seeps into the community and threatens to spur a winter wave.
The city will ban dining-in after 6 p.m., close some venues including bars and gyms, eliminate large-scale events and halt all flights from eight countries, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a briefing on Wednesday. The new rules return to social distancing restrictions that were in place a year ago and eased after Chinese New Year in 2021 when infections were ebbing.