HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong on Monday imposed sweeping curbs to cease a recent spike in coronavirus infections, closing authorities places of work and swimming swimming pools and limiting public gatherings to 2 folks.

The announcement follows Sunday’s choice to shut colleges for in-person instructing the remainder of the 12 months.

The territory’s chief, Chief Government Carrie Lam, introduced 76 new confirmed instances on Monday, together with 9 that have been untraceable. That was on prime of 115 infections reported Sunday.

The upsurge is “very extreme,” Lam informed reporters.

“I don’t need the general public to mistakenly reckon that the height of the epidemic is over already,” she stated.

Lam stated authorities workers, besides these in emergency companies, would work at home. She appealed to non-public employers to take action as nicely if they might.

That marks the third time authorities workers have been informed to remain house this 12 months in an try to regulate repeated surges of the virus.

The federal government will take over two lodges with a complete of 800 rooms to be used as quarantine facilities, Lam stated. She stated three authorities services with 600 to 700 beds that have been used earlier for quarantine could be reopened.

Eating places have been ordered to restrict diners to 2 folks per desk and transfer up obligatory closing to 10 p.m. from midnight. Gyms might be restricted to 2 folks at one time.

Fines for violations will enhance, Lam stated, however she gave no particulars.

“We are actually closing all the things, virtually all the things, besides the eating places as a result of we’re assembly the every day wants of the folks, Lam stated.