HONG KONG, April 21 (Xinhua) -- China's Hong Kong will extend its social distancing measures that will expire at midnight on Thursday for another 14 days to ensure the COVID-19 epidemic will be completely controlled.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam announced the decision on Tuesday morning at a press conference, stressing that the anti-epidemic measures cannot stop at present, or all the efforts that Hong Kong has made could be wasted.

The social distancing measures put in place by the HKSAR government include limiting group gatherings and catering services and shutting multiple types of entertainment venues from bars and karaoke lounges.

Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection said no new confirmed cases of the COVID-19 were recorded in Hong Kong on Monday, the first time in more than 45 days, and the case tally remained at 1,025 in total.

After weeks of surging imported cases as well as local clustered outbreaks, Hong Kong has seen a single-digit daily increase for more than one week thanks to effective measures by the SAR government.

(Photo: Agencies)