As Hong Kong’s Covid cases soar, CEO Carrie Lam apologises for long testing queues
The city could see 28,000 new cases a day by end- March with its tally of deaths rising to 1,000 by June, University of Hong Kong health experts say
10 February 2022 - 13:03
byJessie Pang and Farah Master
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Residents wait in line at a Covid-19 testing facility in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island in Hong Kong on February 9 2022. Picture: BLOOMBERG/BERTHA WANG
Hong Kong — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she is deeply sorry and anxious about long queues at coronavirus testing centres and isolation facilities, after a record number of new cases left authorities scrambling.
Hong Kong's daily Covid-19 infections nearly doubled to a record 1,161 cases on Wednesday as the global financial hub battles a surge that is proving to be the biggest test of its “dynamic zero” policy of virus suppression.
The city is due to report 986 new infections on Thursday, broadcaster TVB reported.
Writing on her official Facebook page, Lam said the government was working hard to enhance capacity and that the fast-spreading infections, hitting places like elderly care homes, were the last thing she wanted to see.
“Citizens have to wait for a long time to receive testing and a large number of people who have tested positive have been waiting for a long time for isolation facilities,” she said.
“I am deeply sorry and anxious.”
Hong Kong has adopted a “zero-Covid-19” strategy, as has mainland China, which entails suppressing all outbreaks as soon as possible, in contrast with many other places that are trying to “live with Covid-19”, relying on high vaccination rates to bring protection while easing restrictions.
The fast-spreading Omicron variant is testing both approaches though experts have said Hong Kong’s strategy looks increasingly unsustainable with cases ballooning.
Hong Kong has reported nearly 4,000 infections over the past two weeks, up from just two in December, taking its tally to more than 17,000 since the outbreak began in 2020, with 215 deaths, figures that are much lower than those seen in other major cities around the world.
The city could see 28,000 new cases a day by the end of March with its tally of deaths rising to 1,000 by June, health experts from the University of Hong Kong said this week.
The experts modelled scenarios that they said indicated Hong Kong could only return to a “zero-Covid-19” state if the entire city was locked down for 2-3 months.
Taking a toll
Authorities have responded to the latest surge with the toughest suppression measures yet, despite an increasing social and economic toll on the city's 7.5-million residents.
Public gatherings of more than two people are banned from Thursday while gatherings in homes have also been restricted. The rules add to already strict measures that have forced restaurants to close from 6pm and shut most venues from churches to schools, gyms and cinemas.
About 200,000 people in the Discovery Bay residential area, where many foreigners live, have been ordered to get tested after the government said it detected coronavirus in sewage samples.
Typically, people are mandated to test if they have been in an area where infections are detected, and big crowds have thronged testing centres across the city in recent days.
Lam said the city was not able to try to live with the virus because more than 50% of the elderly have not been vaccinated.
About 82% of the city's residents have had at least one vaccine shot but many elderly people have been hesitant.
Two people in their 70s were the latest to die from coronavirus, authorities said on Wednesday.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
As Hong Kong’s Covid cases soar, CEO Carrie Lam apologises for long testing queues
The city could see 28,000 new cases a day by end- March with its tally of deaths rising to 1,000 by June, University of Hong Kong health experts say
Hong Kong — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she is deeply sorry and anxious about long queues at coronavirus testing centres and isolation facilities, after a record number of new cases left authorities scrambling.
Hong Kong's daily Covid-19 infections nearly doubled to a record 1,161 cases on Wednesday as the global financial hub battles a surge that is proving to be the biggest test of its “dynamic zero” policy of virus suppression.
The city is due to report 986 new infections on Thursday, broadcaster TVB reported.
Writing on her official Facebook page, Lam said the government was working hard to enhance capacity and that the fast-spreading infections, hitting places like elderly care homes, were the last thing she wanted to see.
“Citizens have to wait for a long time to receive testing and a large number of people who have tested positive have been waiting for a long time for isolation facilities,” she said.
“I am deeply sorry and anxious.”
Hong Kong has adopted a “zero-Covid-19” strategy, as has mainland China, which entails suppressing all outbreaks as soon as possible, in contrast with many other places that are trying to “live with Covid-19”, relying on high vaccination rates to bring protection while easing restrictions.
The fast-spreading Omicron variant is testing both approaches though experts have said Hong Kong’s strategy looks increasingly unsustainable with cases ballooning.
Hong Kong has reported nearly 4,000 infections over the past two weeks, up from just two in December, taking its tally to more than 17,000 since the outbreak began in 2020, with 215 deaths, figures that are much lower than those seen in other major cities around the world.
The city could see 28,000 new cases a day by the end of March with its tally of deaths rising to 1,000 by June, health experts from the University of Hong Kong said this week.
The experts modelled scenarios that they said indicated Hong Kong could only return to a “zero-Covid-19” state if the entire city was locked down for 2-3 months.
Taking a toll
Authorities have responded to the latest surge with the toughest suppression measures yet, despite an increasing social and economic toll on the city's 7.5-million residents.
Public gatherings of more than two people are banned from Thursday while gatherings in homes have also been restricted. The rules add to already strict measures that have forced restaurants to close from 6pm and shut most venues from churches to schools, gyms and cinemas.
About 200,000 people in the Discovery Bay residential area, where many foreigners live, have been ordered to get tested after the government said it detected coronavirus in sewage samples.
Typically, people are mandated to test if they have been in an area where infections are detected, and big crowds have thronged testing centres across the city in recent days.
Lam said the city was not able to try to live with the virus because more than 50% of the elderly have not been vaccinated.
About 82% of the city's residents have had at least one vaccine shot but many elderly people have been hesitant.
Two people in their 70s were the latest to die from coronavirus, authorities said on Wednesday.
Reuters
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