Legal provisions for enforcing social distancing to guard against COVID-19: the case of Hong Kong

The implementation of social distancing measures through legal regulations to contain an epidemiologic outbreak has received little research attention. We reviewed and synthesized data on epidemiology, mobility trends and enforcement activities in the first 5 months of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong to examine the effectiveness of the newly enacted social distancing regulations. Data collected showed reduced patronage of retail and recreational activities during the epidemic. The regulations’ enforcement could be inferred from the increase in the number of inspections, verbal warnings given to operators of scheduled premises and to people in public gatherings, but which rarely led to prosecutions. In parallel, the number of reported COVID-19 cases became stabilized. Our analyses suggested that public compliance with social distancing regulations could be maintained through promotional efforts without enforcement by prosecution. The adverse impacts of prolonged social distancing on the economy and citizens’ social and psychological well-being were, however, of concern.