Lam: Hong Kong to relax some virus restrictions

Hong Kong is going to relax some of its anti-coronavirus social distancing restrictions and allow schools to reopen in stages, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced Tuesday afternoon.

And the government is going to give a free, reusable face mask to every one of Hong Kong's more than 7 million residents to stop the spread of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus.

Lam explained the masks will be made out of copper thread and are called "CU masks" in English, or "see you masks."

Schools will resume from May 27, with students in the more senior grades at secondary schools returning to schools first, while some younger pupils will follow suit in June.

Lam said Hong Kong’s social-distancing measures will remain in place for two more weeks, until May 21.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those with mild or no visible symptoms.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.

Hong Kong has seen no local transmissions of the coronavirus for 16 consecutive days, and its total COVID-19 cases stand at just over 1,000, with four reported deaths.