Hong Kong will expand strict new social distancing measures from midnight tonight, mandating face masks in all indoor public areas including malls and markets, Health Secretary Sophia Chan has said.

The Asian financial hub tightened social distancing measures in July after a spike of locally transmitted cases and as authorities warned about a third wave of infections.

“This is the most critical time for Hong Kong. We ask citizens to be patient and stay at home as much as possible,” Reuters quoted Chan as saying.