Hong Kong reported its largest one-day increase in COVID-19 cases on Sunday morning.
City Executive Director Carrie Lam told reporters that 108 cases were recorded in one day, of which 83 were local and 25 imported. The new COVID-19 cases bring the total of the semi-autonomous city to 1,886, BBC News reported.
“I think the situation is really critical and there is no sign that the situation is under control,” Lam said.
Lam announced new restrictions in response to the increase in cases, including a mandate that nonessential public officials work from home and require covering their faces in indoor public spaces.
The executive director also promised to run 10,000 tests a day for the city with 7.5 million people.
The new restrictions follow last week, which closed bars, gyms, and nightclubs and mandatory face masks on public transportation. Restaurants are not allowed to allow diners in person after 6 pm, BBC reported.
Hong Kong Disneyland announced its closure less than a month after it reopened amid new government restrictions, according to the media outlet.
Hong Kong was able to fight the coronavirus after it is believed to have originated in China late last year. But in the past two weeks, the city has counted more than 500 new cases, according to Yahoo News.
Twelve people have died from COVID-19 in the city.
The increase in cases comes as China recently passed a national security law that prohibits what its officials see as subversion, secession and collusion with foreign forces in Hong Kong, drawing criticism from the international community.
Authorities have banned people from gathering for various pro-democracy gatherings, including the Tiananmen Square anniversary vigil on June 4 and the annual democracy rally on July 1.
Authorities cite the coronavirus as reasons to ban the events, but supporters said they are concerned that officials are using the pandemic as an excuse to stop the protests.
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