Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

New rise in infections sees Hong Kong’s museums close for the third time

New rise in infections sees Hong Kong’s museums close for the third time
July 22, 2020

With a third wave of Coronavirus cases impacting Hong Kong, the special administrative region has instituted its strictest measures yet for combatting the spread of disease, including once again shutting down the city’s museums.

Having first made the decision to close museums in late January, during the early days of the pandemic, museums and other attractions reopened in March, closed again in May and reopened last month.

Now, following this latest wave of infections, Hong Kong’s Leisure and Cultural Services Department last week issued a statement announcing “the leisure and cultural venues/facilities reopened earlier will be temporarily closed starting from July 15.”

Affected institutions include the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the HK Visual Arts Centre, and the University Museum and Art Gallery at the University of Hong Kong. Non-government institutions are following suit.

The West Kowloon Cultural District is closing the M+ Pavilion, where “Shirley Tse: Stakes and Holders” was scheduled to be on view through 4th October, and the Liang Yi Museum is also shutting down.

The new restrictions also include mandatory face masks on public transportation and limiting restaurants to take out after 6 p.m. Prior to the current spike, the government had lifted restrictions on parties of more than eight at restaurants and permitted gatherings for up to 50 people. Now, they are limited again to four people, as was the case back in March.

This is the second time that Hong Kong has been forced to quell a new rise in case counts. The city eased restrictions in March and reopened museums on the 11th of that month - until the number of cases suddenly doubled from 157 to 317, and institutions closed again.

Image: The Hong Kong Museum of Art. Image courtesy Niklas Morberg via Flickr.

Related Articles

16th July 2020 - New Coronavirus outbreaks force Hong Kong Disneyland into new closure

29th June 2020 - Hong Kong Tourism Board hosts Global Online Forum on post COVID-19 travel

10th June 2020 - Hong Kong’s theme parks to reopen as Government looks to reboot tourism

27th May 2020 - Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre successfully holds first event in wake of COVID-19 crisis

7th May 2020 - Hong Kong Government to allow reopening of gyms, amusement centres, cinemas and entertainment venues

26th January 2020 - Coronavirus fears sees closure of Hong Kong and Shanghai Disney resorts

9th August 2019 - Protests impact Hong Kong tourism

9th July 2019 - Second arts venue opens in West Kowloon Cultural District

24th June 2019 - Hong Kong’s new Xiqu Centre the world’s first performance venue specifically designed for classical Chinese opera

20th August 2018 - Hong Kong leisure projects hit by building delays

28th May 2018 - New centre for Heritage and the Arts opened in Hong Kong

9th March 2018 - Free entry initiative sees record attendance at Hong Kong museums

17th October 2016 - M+ Pavilion opening marks the first permanent art venue in the West Kowloon Cultural District

26th November 2014 - Construction advances on West Kowloon Cultural District venues

30th July 2012 - Architects shortlisted for West Kowloon Cultural District arts venue