Hong Kong ramps up isolation facilities including at cruise terminal to battle COVID-19
Medical workers wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), work next to patients at a makeshift treatment area outside a hospital, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Hong Kong, China February 19, 2022. REUTERS
HONG KONG — As Hong Kong battles a surge in coronavirus cases, city authorities said they are ramping up the provision of community isolation and treatment units helped by mainland construction teams, including the reprovisioning of a cruise ship terminal.
With a reported 6,063 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, the government said in a statement late on Saturday that the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal would be turned into a dedicated COVID facility with 1,000 beds to mitigate overburdened public hospitals.
Hong Kong’s embattled leader Carrie Lam, who attended a ground-breaking ceremony at a construction site for 10,000 COVID-19 units at Penny’s Bay close to the city’s Disneyland resort, said she hoped the initiatives would “significantly enhance” the financial hub’s anti-epidemic capacity.
“We are under a critical situation amid this smokeless battle,” Lam said in a statement.
Some experts and critics say Hong Kong’s “dynamic zero-COVID” policies, mirroring those in mainland China, have contributed to current woes and are unsustainable, experts say.
China has sent medical personnel and equipment including mobile testing units to Hong Kong to help, with authorities saying the outbreak could take up to three months to stabilize.
The chief executive election, initially scheduled for March, will be postponed to May, adding to uncertainty about the former British colony’s future as Beijing imposes its rule.
RELATED STORIES
How COVID-wracked Hong Kong is reeling two years into pandemic
Hong Kong ‘cannot afford to lose’ fight against surging COVID-19
Xi tells Hong Kong’s leaders to control COVID as infections spiral
Hong Kong rules out citywide lockdown despite COVID-19 spiral
Hong Kong considers mass testing as COVID fight intensifies
For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.
The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.
