Queues for haircuts as new HK virus curbs loom

Long queues formed outside a hair salon in Hong Kong on Wednesday following the announcement of the city's newest restrictions to tackle the latest spread of the coronavirus.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s leader, Carrie Lam announced the toughest social-distancing restrictions yet, including unprecedented limits on private gatherings, as new daily cases surged above 600. Public gatherings were restricted to two people, and hair salons and places of worship have been told to close from Thursday until February 24, when the city launches a “vaccine pass” that will require people to show proof of vaccination to enter shopping malls, markets and eateries. The tightened measures come as the city grapples with a new wave of the virus driven by the omicron variant.