• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service
Saturday, May 28, 2022
The Millennial Source
TMS
Home WORLD

Hong Kong considers tighter COVID-19 social distancing rules as city struggles to contain outbreak

byThe Millennial Source
February 20, 2022
in WORLD
Hong Kong COVID-19

A taxi arrives at a clinic designated to treat patients of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Hong Kong, China February 20, 2022. REUTERS/Lam Yik

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

The backstory:

  • Hong Kong is aiming for a “dynamic zero infection” situation, which, according to state-backed media outlet Xinhua news agency, does not mean trying to get to zero cases. Instead, it aims to identify new infections as early as possible so that the virus can be contained.
  • But despite the strategy, the city is now seeing its fifth wave and recording more cases than ever since the pandemic started over two years ago. These new cases started spiking after the Lunar New Year celebrations. 
  • With that, Hong Kong has imposed its most stringent COVID-19 social distancing policies to date, with a vaccine pass being introduced on February 24 only allowing those who have received at least one dose of the vaccine into certain areas.
  • Health experts have also warned that the city could see 28,000 new cases a day by the end of March, with deaths rising to 1,000 by June. The experts added that returning to a “zero-covid” state would only be possible if the entire city were locked down for around two to three months.
  • Because those who test positive and their close contacts have to isolate, Hong Kong is running out of quarantine facilities. Last week Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam asked property tycoons for some additional hotel space for these individuals.
  • On top of that, the government is now reportedly considering testing up to one million people each day from March, with those who don’t comply fined HK$10,000 (US$1,282). Local media cited Lam as saying 300,000 tests could be conducted daily by the end of this month.

The development: 

  • On Sunday, Hong Kong recorded 6,067 new COVID-19 cases – 12 imported, 10 critical and 14 deaths.
  • Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan told Commercial Radio Hong Kong earlier Sunday that there’s “definitely no room for relaxing social-distancing measures.” 
  • Over the weekend, Beijing sent Hong Kong 10 million rapid antigen testing kits and other medical supplies, with the city’s government planning to procure a total of 100 million test kits, according to a government statement released on Sunday. 
  • The Chinese government has also sent over a team to help build out more isolation and treatment facilities, with a total of 10,000 units being built at Penny’s Bay and Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. 
  • On Sunday, controller of the Center for Health Protection Edwin Tsui said, “We have to closely look at the situation in the next week or two to decide how to contain it.”
  • Several additional measures are being considered, one of which is having police check people’s vaccination status in shopping malls and more dining-in restrictions at restaurants.
  • Hong Kong’s budget is also being delivered on Wednesday. And on Sunday, Financial Secretary Paul Chan wrote in a blog post that “We must also try our best to bail out citizens and SMEs, stabilize everyone’s confidence, and deploy medium- and long-term economic development and ensuring economic and financial security.” 

You drive the stories at TMS. DM us which headline you want us to explain, or email us.

Like TMS? Subscribe to our free daily newsletter

. . .

Related

Tags: COVID-19
ShareTweetShare

Latest Posts

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific seeks to rehire ex-staff as part of airline’s “anticipated recovery”

May 27, 2022
Hong Kong COVID

Hong Kong border controls “unlikely” to be relaxed before June 30 amid “significant amount” of imported cases, says Lam

May 25, 2022
North Korea COVID

North Korea faces over 1 million infections and 62 deaths from recent COVID spike

May 19, 2022

The University of Hong Kong’s medical faculty warns people of a potential COVID cluster in Kennedy Town

May 13, 2022

Abandoning zero-COVID regulations could result in approximately 1.55 million deaths in China, says university study

May 12, 2022

Hong Kong will revisit discussions with China about opening borders quarantine-free

May 11, 2022

China tightens COVID rules despite consecutive drops in daily infections

May 11, 2022

China’s lockdowns are ineffective in the long run says White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci

May 6, 2022

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces the second stage of COVID rules relaxation for May

May 4, 2022

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TMS NEWSLETTER

By providing your email, you agree to our Privacy Policy

The Millennial Source Ltd. 2021

No Result
View All Result
  • Your daily briefing
  • About us
  • Explore
    • Startups
    • Climate change
    • Tech giants
    • Crypto
    • The future of work
    • Banking giants
    • Economy
  • Lifestyle
  • TMS archives
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy & Terms

© 2022 The Millennial Source Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

string(24) "jsonld single post debug"
The Millennial Source
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.