Kaohsiung, Feb. 1 (CNA) Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) announced several city-wide measures on Tuesday to battle the recent rise in COVID-19 cases within the city, including banning eating and drinking inside cinemas.
Following the same decision made by Taipei just a day before, eating and drinking inside movie theaters will no longer be allowed in Kaohsiung starting Wednesday.
To date, Kaohsiung and Taipei are the only two cities in the country to ban food and beverage consumption inside cinemas.
Chen also announced a slew of new regulations during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, stating that the rules will be implemented on Wednesday.
Public transportation like buses, metros, light rails, ferries, taxis, and YouBikes will be regularly disinfected, with commuters required to wear face masks at all times while being required to comply with contact-based tracing systems using their phones and QR codes, said Chen.
Services at social care facilities, residential and community long-term care facilities will be temporarily suspended for individuals who have not yet received or have only gotten a second dose of a COVID vaccine within under 14 days, he said, adding that individuals with symptoms of respiratory diseases must also refrain from entering such locations.
Community and social welfare agencies will also stop organizing get-togethers such as karaoke, cooking, and baking events, Chen said.
Meanwhile, inspection officers will be deployed to restaurants to make sure COVID-19 response guidelines such as mask mandates are properly observed, the mayor said.
Population control will be enforced at public venues like markets, tourist hotspots, and parks, while businesses involving food must stop providing samples, he added.
