HONG KONG (Reuters] – Hong Kong will ease COVID-19 regulations, allowing bars open up to 2 a.m. ET and increasing the number of diners at a dinner table from 4 to 8, as global financial hub cases continue to ease. Leader Carrie Lam stated Tuesday.

Lam announced that swimming pools and beaches will be reopened starting on Thursday. He also said that restaurants can accommodate up to four people each at each table.

Beginning May 19, bars will be open longer hours and karaoke rooms, among other venues, will reopen.

On Monday, 283 COVID-19 cases were reported by Hong Kong’s health officials. This is the first day that the daily count has fallen below 300 in three months. More than 1.2 Million infections have been reported in the city and more that 9,300 people have died since the beginning of the pandemic.

Lam stated that the COVID number dropped to 3 digits by mid-April, and did not rebound, even though foot traffic increased during 2 holidays. He also said it wasn’t right to prohibit people from swimming in good weather.

She expressed her hope that more people would enjoy Mother’s Day, Sunday.

Coronavirus restrictions in Hong Kong have hampered business and contributed to a net flow of approximately 70,000 people between February and March. This is up from the December 17,000.

Some may feel that the lifting of restrictions is too late. Many businesses involved in food and beverages have been forced to cut back their staff because they cannot afford rent on one of the most exclusive property markets in the world.

The Chinese-ruled capital is slowly returning to normal. Schools are resuming face classes, and people have returned to work from their offices.