Masked commuters walk toward an MTR station in Central, Hong Kong, on Oct 5, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG / CHINA DAILY)

Hong Kong on Monday revived some of the toughest measures enforced to curb the COVID-19 pandemic as the fourth wave of infections rages on.

The measures, which were similarly implemented for a month from early July when the third wave struck, include the further tightening of social gatherings, the closure of a string of entertainment venues and requiring most of the city’s nearly 180,000 civil servants to work from home for at least two weeks from Wednesday.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the latest restrictions following an urgent Executive Council meeting and after 76 new coronavirus infections were confirmed on Monday although the figure was 39 cases down from that of the previous day’s four-month high of 115.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the latest restrictions following an urgent Executive Council meeting and after 76 new coronavirus infections were confirmed on Monday although the figure was 39 cases down from that of the previous day’s four-month high of 115

But Lam and Chuang Shuk-kwan of the Centre for Health Protection warned that the drop should not be taken as a sign that the virus is in retreat.

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Hong Kong has seen an average of 87 new infections daily in the past week, 90 percent of which were local cases, while more than 100 have been untraceable. Lam quoted four public health advisers as warning that the fourth wave could continue to escalate.

She said the government will maintain only emergency and essential services, noting that nine civil servants have come down with the virus in the latest wave of infections.

Also from Wednesday, the number of people allowed to gather in public will again be reduced from four to two, while karaoke lounges, game centers, swimming pools, mahjong parlors and amusement parks will be shut, joining a list of already-closed venues, such as bars, nightclubs, bathhouses and party rooms.

The largest infection cluster involving dance studios saw 40 more confirmed cases on Monday, according to Chuang. The total number of patients in the group has jumped to at least 519.

Lam said it’s very difficult for the health authorities to carry out contact tracing as many of the patients were found to have been involved in many social activities.

But, unlike the measures taken at the height of previous infections, fitness clubs, sports venues, as well as beauty and massage salons, will be allowed to continue their operations with extra anti-virus steps to be taken.

For restaurants, the maximum number of diners allowed per table will again be slashed to two from four, while dine-in services will have to stop after 10 pm.

READ MORE: HK sees 92 new COVID-19 cases, tally crosses 6,000

Lam also warned the government is likely to double the current fixed penalty of HK$2,000 ($258) for violating the anti-COVID regulations, such as the mandatory wearing of masks in public, mandatory testing order and the ban on big gatherings. Details are expected to be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Executive Council.

However, she again brushed off the feasibility of imposing a mandatory universal testing program, quoting the four government health experts as saying it’s not an “effective and scientifically-based” option.

For the huge number of Hong Kong students expected to return to Hong Kong for the Christmas holidays, two hotels will be enlisted to serve as quarantine centers, providing a total of about 800 rooms.

Among the 68 locally transmitted cases on Monday, nine were untraced, while 19 were detected at some of the existing nine community testing centers. Lam said five more such centers will be set up across the city.

There were also about 50 people who preliminarily tested positive on Monday, including a patient and three health workers at four hospitals. The city’s total number of confirmed cases stood at 6,314, with 109 related deaths so far.

Contact the writer at jefferygu@chinadailyhk.com