A government staffer in protective clothing guards an entrance to the HSBC main building in Central district, Hong Kong, March 17, 2021. The building was closed from March 17 until further notice after three people working in the building tested positive for COVID-19. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong extended social distancing meaures for two weeks until March 31, as a recent COVID-19 cluster linked to a local gym saw more than 120 infections.

Besides, the government also requires catering premises to enhance their air ventilation to a minimum level of six air changes per hour or to install air purifiers as an alternative by end April

The measures, which would have otherwise expired on Thursday, include a ban on public gatherings of more than four people, a ban on in-house dining after 10 pm, and the closure of bars and some leisure venues such as clubhouses and karaoke lounges.

“Since the gradual and orderly relaxation of social distancing measures on Feb 18, the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains volatile. Large-scale cluster outbreaks were found at catering business premises and fitness centres, and silent transmission in the community is still active,” a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said in a statement.

READ MORE: HK to relax social-distancing rules, logs 8 new virus cases

“In addition, the relevant departments have been actively discussing with the industry to encourage fitness centres to enhance infection control measures on a voluntary basis. Such measures include limiting the number of customers in the premises and exploring more frequent tests of staff.”

Besides, the government also requires catering premises to enhance their air ventilation to a minimum level of six air changes per hour or to install air purifiers as an alternative by end April.

ALSO READ: HK to ease social distancing rules, logs 17 new virus cases

Hong Kong saw more than 144,000 people snap up CVOID-19 vaccine appointments the first day the government expanded access to a majority of residents.

Some 30,800 people reserved slots to get the Chinese-made Sinovac Biotech Ltd. shot and 113,200 others booked doses of Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE’s vaccine at community vaccine centers in the 24 hours ending at 8 pm Tuesday, the government said. Data was not available from private clinics, some of which are also offering Sinovac’s shot.

The total number of people able to access vaccines now represents some 70 percent of the city’s population of 7.5 million, with adults aged 30 to 59 years old now eligible. The government added 23,000 new reservation slots to daily capacity on Tuesday, and has increased the number of community centers offering the BioNTech shot from seven to 19.

Around 23,200 Hong Kong residents got vaccinated on Tuesday. Since the vaccination program began in late February, 176,300 residents had received the first dose of Sinovac vaccine and 53,000 had been injected with the BioNTech vaccine.

With Bloomberg inputs