<p>Hong Kong's leader said Sunday that coronavirus was spreading out of control in the city as she announced a record daily high of more than 100 cases and ordered new social distancing measures.</p>.<p>The finance hub was one of the first places to be struck by the virus when it emerged from central China.</p>.<p>But the city had impressive success in tackling the disease, all but ending local transmissions by late June.</p>.<p>However, in the last two weeks, cases have begun to spike once more and doctors fear it is spreading undetected in the densely packed territory of 7.5 million people.</p>.<p>On Sunday, chief executive Carrie Lam said more than 500 infections had been confirmed in the last fortnight, bringing the city's total tally to 1,788 cases with 12 fatalities.</p>.<p>More than 100 were confirmed on Sunday alone, a record daily high for the finance hub.</p>.<p>"I think the situation is really critical and there is no sign the situation is being brought under control," chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters.</p>.<p>Lam announced new social distancing measures last week, shuttering many businesses including bars, gyms and nightclubs, and ordering everyone to wear masks on public transport.</p>.<p>Restaurants were ordered to only offer takeout services in the evenings.</p>.<p>On Sunday, Lam announced new measures including plans to make it compulsory to wear masks inside any public indoor venue -- and a new order for non-essential civil servants to work for home.</p>.<p>As hospital wards fill up, officials are also scrambling to build a further 2,000 isolation rooms on barren land near the city's Disneyland resort to monitor and treat those who test positive, she added.</p>.<p>Hong Kong was already mired in recession when the pandemic hit thanks to the US-China trade war and months of political unrest last year.</p>.<p>The new partial lockdown has compounded the economic misery.</p>.<p>On Sunday, Lam called for landlords to look at lowering rents.</p>.<p>She said further social distancing measures would be rolled out if the daily infection rate did not ease in coming days.</p>
<p>Hong Kong's leader said Sunday that coronavirus was spreading out of control in the city as she announced a record daily high of more than 100 cases and ordered new social distancing measures.</p>.<p>The finance hub was one of the first places to be struck by the virus when it emerged from central China.</p>.<p>But the city had impressive success in tackling the disease, all but ending local transmissions by late June.</p>.<p>However, in the last two weeks, cases have begun to spike once more and doctors fear it is spreading undetected in the densely packed territory of 7.5 million people.</p>.<p>On Sunday, chief executive Carrie Lam said more than 500 infections had been confirmed in the last fortnight, bringing the city's total tally to 1,788 cases with 12 fatalities.</p>.<p>More than 100 were confirmed on Sunday alone, a record daily high for the finance hub.</p>.<p>"I think the situation is really critical and there is no sign the situation is being brought under control," chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters.</p>.<p>Lam announced new social distancing measures last week, shuttering many businesses including bars, gyms and nightclubs, and ordering everyone to wear masks on public transport.</p>.<p>Restaurants were ordered to only offer takeout services in the evenings.</p>.<p>On Sunday, Lam announced new measures including plans to make it compulsory to wear masks inside any public indoor venue -- and a new order for non-essential civil servants to work for home.</p>.<p>As hospital wards fill up, officials are also scrambling to build a further 2,000 isolation rooms on barren land near the city's Disneyland resort to monitor and treat those who test positive, she added.</p>.<p>Hong Kong was already mired in recession when the pandemic hit thanks to the US-China trade war and months of political unrest last year.</p>.<p>The new partial lockdown has compounded the economic misery.</p>.<p>On Sunday, Lam called for landlords to look at lowering rents.</p>.<p>She said further social distancing measures would be rolled out if the daily infection rate did not ease in coming days.</p>