Hong Kong postpones university entrance exams, schools to remain closed

HONG KONG: Hong Kong said on Saturday (Mar 21) it would postpone university entrance exams until Apr 24 as the city tries to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases as people return from overseas infected with the disease.

The government said it would make civil servants work from home and urged employers to be flexible with work from home arrangements. Schools would remain closed until further notice, it added.

Hong Kong has 273 confirmed cases of coronavirus, which has killed four people in the city.

READ: COVID-19: Hong Kong to charge daily fee to stay in quarantine facility

READ: Hong Kong to give big cash handouts as economy reels from virus

On Tuesday, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said that all arrivals to the city would be subject to a 14-day quarantine. 

Residents were also advised to avoid all non-essential travel.

Hong Kong detected its first cases as early as January, but has managed to avoid the scale of contagion seen in other countries and territories due to severe social distancing measures and a strong community response.

Inmates in Hong Kong prisons have been working night shifts to produce face masks as the outbreak continues. 

About 1,200 retired or off-duty prison officers are also working to produce the masks, the government said.​​​​​​​

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the novel coronavirus and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the COVID-19 outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram