Banks in Hong Kong on Monday shut branches and told staff to stay at home after Asia's financial hub recorded a big jump in Covid-19 cases.
There have been about 500 infections over the past fortnight, with the territory seeing more than 100 cases in a 24-hour period at the weekend. That's the most since the pandemic first took hold at the end of January.
HSBC temporarily today closed two business centres for commercial banking and three mobile branches, as well as shortened the opening hours at all its branches. Standard Chartered has also cut operating times.
Other global banks with offices in Hong Kong suspended return-to-work plans, with most Citigroup staff told to stay at home on Monday. UBS reportedly had about 60% of staff working from home, compared with 20% earlier this month.
Unlike in London, where City offices are still largely empty, Hong Kong and other Asia financial territories such as Singapore and Shanghai had been getting back to normal.
Hong Kong took swift action at the start of the crisis to combat the virus, but some restrictions are now being put back in place. On Sunday, Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam described the situation as “really critical” and that there was no sign that the latest outbreak is under control.
She pledged that authorities would carry out 100,000 tests a day, with face masks now mandatory in indoor public areas and not just on public transport. Amusement parks and gyms will remain closed for another seven days, while non-essential civil servants have been told to stay at home.
