HONG KONG, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Wednesday announced the decision to shut multiple types of entertainment venues from karaoke lounges to night clubs in response to the worsening COVID-19 pandemic.

Visitors wear facemasks as a precautionary measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus as they walk in a usually busy shopping mall in Hong Kong on March 31, 2020. (Photo: AFP)

Karaoke lounges, mahjong parlors and night clubs should be closed for 14 days since 6:00 p.m. local time Wednesday, the HKSAR government said in a statement.

The move came in the latest effort of the government to tackle rapidly-growing COVID-19 cases during the past over two weeks as a large number of Hong Kong residents returned from virus-hit European countries and the United States.

Hong Kong reported 51 new cases Wednesday, taking the total to 765.

An array of social distancing measures had already taken effect, such as limits on group gatherings and restaurant services.