Residents have their samples taken at a Covid-19 screening center in Hong Kong, China, on Thursday,Feb 17, 2022.
Louise Delmontte|Bloomberg|Getty Images
Hong Kong will evaluate its whole population of 7.5 million individuals for Covid-19 in March, the city’s leader stated Tuesday, as it comes to grips with its worst break out driven by the omicron version.
The population will be evaluated 3 times in March, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam stated.
She stated screening capability will be enhanced to 1 million a day or more.
“Since we have a population of some 7 million people, testing will take about seven days,” she stated.
Hong Kong has actually reported about 5,000 brand-new day-to-day infections given thatFeb 15, with the cases threatening to overwhelm its health care system. Since the present rise started at the start of the year, the city has actually tape-recorded almost 54,000 cases and 145 deaths.
The order for citywide screening follows mainland Chinese authorities dispatched epidemiologists, health employees and other medical resources recently to assist consist of the break out in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
Hong Kong has actually mostly aligned itself with mainland China’s “zero-Covid-19” policy, which intends to completely mark out break outs, even as numerous other nations are moving their method to dealing with the infection.
Lockdowns of whole cities have actually been enforced in a variety of locations of the mainland, however Lam stated no such step is presently being thought about in Hong Kong since it is “not realistic.”
She likewise rejected that the main Chinese federal government is offering directions to Hong Kong on how to manage the epidemic.
“I reiterate that the central government never issued any instructions on our anti-epidemic work,” she stated. “The central government will offer support as needed or upon our request, but of course we will always exchange our views.”
The “zero-Covid-19” method suggests that Hong Kong authorities frequently take steps such as locking down property estates for mass screening when favorable cases are spotted, enforcing stringent quarantine requirements on tourists and purchasing the shuttering of companies.
The quick rise of infections in the city has actually threatened to overwhelm its health care system.
Health authorities stated recently that healthcare facilities were currently at 90% of capability and seclusion centers were complete. People who evaluate favorable for the infection in Hong Kong need to either be confessed to a medical facility or a quarantine center.
Lam acknowledged on Tuesday that the city’s seclusion centers are “severely inadequate” which it is “working very hard with the full support of the central authorities” to develop more.
Current social-distancing steps, such as a restriction on dining at dining establishments after 6 p.m. and the closure of companies such as health clubs and bars, will be extended up until April 20.
“This is not good news to the sectors affected, but really at this stage of the pandemic we have no choice but to take these measures,” Lam stated.
She stated the city wishes to increase its vaccination rate to 90% by early March.
Other determines revealed Tuesday consist of ending the academic year early and moving the typical July-August summertime vacations forward to March and April so that schools can be become centers for screening, seclusion and vaccination.
Flight prohibits from nations categorized as high danger, consisting of Australia, Canada, India, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Britain and the U.S., will be reached April 20.
