The Chinese language-ruled territory reported 32,597 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday and a file 117 deaths previously 24 hours. It has seen day by day infections surge over 30 occasions from simply over 100 firstly of February.
The worldwide monetary hub has reported greater than 230,000 coronavirus infections and greater than 800 deaths for the reason that pandemic started in 2020. Round 500 deaths have been previously week, with the bulk being unvaccinated residents.
Hong Kong continues to stay to a Covid coverage of “dynamic zero”, the identical as mainland China, which seeks to curb all outbreaks at any price as an alternative of attempting to dwell with the virus.
The previous British colony, which returned to Chinese language rule almost 25 years in the past, has launched its most draconian measures for the reason that begin of the pandemic in 2020.
Mass testing for the town’s 7.4 million residents is about to happen over 9 days beginning within the second half of March, the South China Morning Publish reported, citing an unidentified supply.
The information sparked issues many individuals shall be pressured to isolate and households with members testing optimistic can be separated.
Officers are planning to check individuals thrice over 9 days, with the federal government nonetheless deliberating whether or not a lockdown can be on a district foundation or citywide, the SCMP mentioned.
Exemptions can be made for individuals who purchase meals, search medical remedy or perform pressing duties. Hong Kong’s inventory market would proceed to function, Sing Tao newspaper reported, citing unidentified sources.
“Our intention is all the time to maintain markets absolutely functioning regardless of the prevailing surroundings,” the inventory trade mentioned in a press release.
Lam had beforehand mentioned she was not contemplating a city-wide lockdown. She additionally mentioned earlier this yr she had no plans for obligatory mass testing.
On Tuesday, she appealed to the general public “to not fall prey to rumours to keep away from pointless fears being stirred”, saying the availability of meals and items was regular.
“There is no such thing as a want for members of the general public to fret, they need to keep vigilant and take note of the knowledge disseminated by the federal government in order to keep away from being misled by rumours,” Lam mentioned in a press release.
Regardless of her feedback, dozens of individuals queued to enter pharmacies and banks throughout the town, whereas many scoured empty cabinets in grocery shops to fill up on no matter necessities they may.
Streets and buying malls within the coronary heart of the densely populated metropolis’s Central monetary district have been eerily quiet in what would usually be a busy lunchtime interval.
Well being specialists from the College of Hong Kong mentioned there have been round 1.7 million individuals already contaminated as of Monday, with a peak of round 183,000 day by day infections anticipated within the coming week. They mentioned a plan for obligatory mass testing ought to happen in late April when case numbers have been more likely to be a lot decrease.
Lam, who inspected a mainland Chinese language constructed isolation centre on Monday, mentioned the workforce had raced towards the clock to “create a miracle” within the metropolis’s development trade.
The Tsing Yi facility, situated within the northwest of the town, would offer round 3,900 rooms for contaminated individuals with gentle or no signs and others who must isolate, she mentioned.
