Hong Kong will partly resume transit services at its international airport next week, the city's leader announced Tuesday, as the business hub gradually reopens while keeping the coronavirus at bay.

Hong Kong's airport is one of the world's busiest but arrivals and flights have collapsed in the wake of the global pandemic.

"Transit services at the airport, which have been suspended since March 25, will partly resume on June 1," Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters.

Further details on lifting transit flight restrictions were expected to be unveiled at a press conference by health officials later in the afternoon.

Hong Kong was one of the first places to record the COVID-19 disease when it broke out of mainland China.

But the city has since made impressive headway against the virus with a little over 1,000 recorded infections and four deaths out of a population of 7.5 million people.

Tuesday marked 11 consecutive days with no recorded local infections.

Anyone arriving at the airport is not allowed into the city until they take a coronavirus test. Those found to be positive are immediately quarantined.

Many businesses including bars were forced to shut in March and April but have since reopened.

Karaoke lounges, nightclubs, saunas and party rooms will be allowed to reopen on Friday, Lam said.

Hong Kong's airport was ranked the largest air cargo hub and the fourth largest international passenger centre in 2019 by the Airports Council International, handling 4.8 million metric tonnes of cargo and over 71 million international passengers.

Arrivals dropped last year during anti-government protests that rocked the city for months.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

F-35A crashes at Eglin AFB, Fla., with pilot safely ejecting
Washington DC (UPI) May 20, 2020
An F-35A Lightning II fighter plane crashed on landing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., with the pilot safely ejecting, the base's public affairs office confirmed on Wednesday. The crash came Tuesday evening during a routine night training exercise by the U.S. Air Force 43rd Fighter Squadron, which is based at Eglin, officials said in a press release. There was no damage to civilian property in the crash, which occurred on a range about 12 miles from the main base. The unidentified pilot o ... read more