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 Carrie Lam, the head of the administration in the Chinese ruled
city, issued a grim update for residents already subjected to tight
restrictions on social gatherings as health authorities reported a
record 2,071 infections on Monday, with 4,500 separate preliminary
positive cases.
"The onslaught of the fifth wave of the epidemic has dealt a heavy
blow to Hong Kong and overwhelmed the city's capacity of handling,"
Lam said, adding patients were having to wait longer to access
isolation facilities.
"The situation is highly undesirable and the government feels
worried and sorry about it," she said.
As the caseload soared, Lam said her administration would coordinate
with Chinese officials to tackle the "aggravating situation".
China has said it would help the city with testing, treatment and
quarantine, and secure resources from rapid antigen kits and
protective gear to fresh vegetables.
Despite the latest surge, deaths in the global financial hub remain
far less than similar-sized cities since the pandemic erupted two
years ago.
But, with the healthcare system already overstretched, medical
experts warn the city could see 28,000 daily infections by the end
of March, with the unvaccinated elderly a particular worry.
Hospital beds for COVID-19 patients are already at 90% occupancy,
data from the city's Hospital Authority showed, while isolation
facilities are near full capacity.
Hong Kong is prioritising elderly, children and those in serious
conditions in hospitals, said Larry Lee, chief manager at the city's
Hospital Authority.
There are around 1,000 patients waiting to be hospitalised,
authorities said on Monday.
[to top of second column] |
 CURB OUTBREAKS
For all the alarm over the latest wave of the
pandemic, Hong Kong's total caseload since the
pandemic first erupted is around 24,000
infections, including more than 200 deaths, less
than many other similar major cities.
Lam said authorities would "spare no effort" to
implement the "dynamic zero" coronavirus
infection strategy in Hong Kong, which, like
mainland China, seeks to curb outbreaks as soon
as they occur, in contrast with many other
places that are trying to live with COVID.
Inside the city, residents are banned from public gatherings of more
than two people while most venues including schools, churches and
gyms are all shut. Dining in restaurants is banned from 6.p.m local
time and most people are working from home.
And on Monday, the government announced all schools will suspend
face-to-face classes until March 6.
Strict flight restrictions have turned Hong Kong into one of the
world's most isolated major cities with its borders effectively
sealed for around two years.
The city's Legislative Council is due to discuss the injection of
HK$27 billion ($3.46 billion) into an anti-epidemic fund to support
businesses and individuals affected by the city's stringent social
distancing measures, the government said in a statement.
($1 = 7.8006 Hong Kong dollars)
(Additional reporting by Anne Marie Roantree and Marius Zaharia;
Editing by Gerry Doyle & Simon Cameron-Moore)
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