Visitors wearing protective masks ride the Toy Soldier Parachute Drop ride at Hong Kong’s Disneyland Thursday, the day the city eased some restrictions, allowing businesses like theme parks and gyms to reopen as Covid numbers fell. Photo: Lam Yik/VCG

People take photos next to a sign at the entrance of the M+ museum in Hong Kong on Thursday. Photo: Isaac Lawrence/VCG

A woman works out at a gym in Hong Kong on Thursday. Photo: Isaac Lawrence/VCG

People eat at a restaurant in Hong Kong on Thursday. The new rules allow restaurants to conduct dine-in services until 10 p.m. The maximum number of people per table has increased from two to four, and banquets with no more than 20 people are permitted. Photo: Isaac Lawrence/VCG

A visitor wearing a mask scans a QR code to enter Hong Kong Disneyland Resort on Thursday. Photo: Lam Yik/VCG

Visitors take photographs of characters during a parade at the Hong Kong resort. Photo: Kin Cheung/VCG

Visitors wearing protective masks ride the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland at the resort. Photo: Lam Yik/VCG

Visitors take photos of a giant panda at Ocean Park Hong Kong on Thursday. The park opened early at 9:40 a.m. that day with a special welcome performance. Photo: Kin Cheung/VCG

Hong Kong kindergartens, primary and international schools reopened for half-day in-person classes on April 19. Photo: Li Zhihua/China News Serice, VCG

With the number of new daily infections dropping below 1,000, the city announced more railway, light rail, and bus links from April 15. Photo: Chen Yongnuo/China News Service, VCG

The Covid outbreak forced shop owners in Hong Kong to shut down stores in January and brought the city’s unemployment rate up to 5%. Photo: Zhang Wei/China News Service, VC

Thursday’s easing of restrictions is part of the first phase of Hong Kong’s social distancing relaxation plan, which was laid out by the government on March 21. Photo: VCG