Hong Kong tightens restrictions as daily Covid cases rise above 600

A TV screen shows Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam talking during a news conference (Vincent Yu/AP)

Hong Kong’s leader has announced the city’s toughest ever social-distancing restrictions, including unprecedented limits on private gatherings, as new daily Covid-19 cases surged above 600.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said gatherings in private premises of more than two families will be banned from Thursday.