Hong Kong leader says no plans to tighten COVID social distancing measures
People wearing face masks cross a street following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Hong Kong, China February 15, 2022. REUTERS/Lam Yik
HONG KONG — Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said Monday there were no current plans to further tighten strict social distancing measures as authorities battle to contain a deepening coronavirus outbreak that has submerged its health system and seen deaths soar.
Lam said there was limited room to tighten further, with the global financial hub already having put in place the strictest measures since its COVID strategy began in 2020. Gatherings of more than two people are banned, most venues are shut – including schools – and masks are compulsory everywhere, even when exercising outdoors.
“The government has to be very careful before tightening social distancing measures further … with the need to consider the mental health of citizens,” she told a daily press briefing.
Lam said last week that the city government had no time frame for a potential compulsory mass testing of Hong Kong’s 7.4 million residents.
Hong Kong has reported more than 700,000 infections and about 4,000 deaths, most of them taking place in the past three weeks. The former British colony has followed mainland China’s ‘dynamic zero’ COVID strategy which seeks to curb all outbreaks as soon as they occur.
The Chinese-ruled territory has had its borders effectively sealed for two years with few flights able to land here and most transit passengers banned.
But deaths have spiked, particularly amongst its mostly unvaccinated elderly, with the city registering the most deaths per million people globally in the week to March 10, according to data publication Our World in Data.
Lam’s comments came after China reported a surge in new local coronavirus cases on Sunday, more than triple the caseload of the previous day, and the highest in about two years.
Some mainland Chinese internet users took to social media platforms to express anger at Hong Kong, saying it has failed to control its coronavirus outbreak and blaming the hub for causing the country’s latest spike in infections.
“Shenzhen people have been scolding Hong Kong every day for the past month. It’s very clear that it has caused so much trouble for others,” said one internet user, called Chen Shui, posting on Chinese social media platform Weibo.
RELATED STORIES
Hong Kong aims to test 1 million per day in COVID-19 compulsory testing program
Hong Kong rules out citywide lockdown despite COVID-19 spiral
Chinese cities and factories lock down as outbreak spreads
As virus cases surge, can China’s zero-COVID strategy hold?
How COVID-wracked Hong Kong is reeling two years into pandemic
Hong Kong vows aid for OFWs with COVID-19 – PH consulate
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.
