Hong Kong leader says fifth Covid wave has ‘overwhelmed’ city’s capacity

Day by day infections have multiplied 13 occasions over the previous two weeks, from about 100 circumstances firstly of February to over 1,300 on Feb. 13, with authorities scrambling to manage the deepening outbreak.

Lam mentioned her authorities would coordinate with Chinese language officers to deal with the “aggravating scenario” after China mentioned it might assist the town with testing, remedy and quarantine.

“The onslaught of the fifth wave of the epidemic has dealt a heavy blow to Hong Kong and overwhelmed the town’s capability of dealing with,” she mentioned, including that the surge had lengthened the period of time earlier than contaminated sufferers may entry isolation amenities.

“The scenario is very undesirable and the federal government feels nervous and sorry about it,” she mentioned.

Her prime officers would coordinate with the central authorities to reinforce Hong Kong’s testing and isolation amenities, and safe sources from fast antigen kits and protecting gear to contemporary greens, she mentioned.

The Chinese language territory reported 1,347 new infections on Sunday, down from Saturday’s document, however the unfold with 2,000 extra suspected circumstances threatens its overstretched healthcare system, authorities mentioned.

Medical specialists warn the town may see 28,000 every day infections by the tip of March, with the unvaccinated aged a specific fear.

Hospital beds for Covid-19 sufferers within the international monetary hub are already at 90 p.c occupancy, knowledge from the town’s Hospital Authority confirmed, whereas isolation amenities are additionally close to full capability.

Hong Kong is prioritising aged, youngsters and people in critical situations in hospitals, mentioned Larry Lee, chief supervisor on the metropolis’s Hospital Authority.

Lam mentioned authorities would “spare no effort” to implement the “dynamic zero” coronavirus an infection technique in Hong Kong, which, like mainland China, seeks to curb outbreaks as quickly as they happen, in distinction with many different locations which can be making an attempt to dwell with Covid.

Hong Kong has recorded about 24,000 infections and greater than 200 deaths, lower than different comparable main cities.