Hong Kong reports record COVID-19 cases; movements could be restricted

Hong Kong’s chief on Wednesday mentioned individuals’s actions could also be restricted throughout necessary testing this month of the complete inhabitants for the coronavirus, as well being officers reported a file 55,353 day by day infections and over 100 deaths.

Chief government Carrie Lam mentioned authorities are nonetheless refining the plan, however that there can be no “full” lockdown that might forestall entry and exit from the town.

HONG KONG’S COVID-19 SUCCESS ACCELERATES OMICRON SURGE

“The extent of it should take into consideration Hong Kong’s circumstances and folks’s wants,” she advised reporters.

Hong Kong is planning to check its greater than 7 million residents because it grapples with hovering numbers of COVID-19 circumstances in its worst outbreak of the pandemic, linked largely to the omicron variant.

Officers on Wednesday reported 117 deaths, taking the full quantity above 1,000. About 80% of the deaths have occurred since late December. Most concerned aged sufferers who weren’t absolutely vaccinated.

“We recorded about 55,000 infections at the moment, which is inside our expectation. Not too long ago each two or three days the variety of confirmed circumstances is doubling,” mentioned Albert Au, a well being officer with the Centre for Well being Safety. He mentioned circumstances haven’t but peaked.

U.S. authorities on Wednesday warned Individuals in opposition to touring to Hong Kong, with the State Division elevating its journey advisory to Degree 4 — Do Not Journey — due to rising circumstances and restrictions imposed by the town and mainland China underneath their “zero-tolerance” coverage towards the coronavirus.

HONG KONG ORDERS MANDATORY COVID-19 TESTS FOR ALL RESIDENTS

“We particularly wish to be aware for households contemplating touring to or residing in Hong Kong that in some circumstances, youngsters in Hong Kong who take a look at optimistic have been separated from their dad and mom and stored in isolation till they meet native hospital discharge necessities,” the journey advisory mentioned.

The surge is threatening to overwhelm Hong Kong’s hospitals, with officers saying they’ve reached most mattress capability and a few basic wards are being transformed into isolation areas.

Public mortuaries have additionally reached full capability, and assistance is being sought from the personal sector to retailer our bodies, officers say. The Hospital Authority has additionally ordered refrigerated containers to briefly retailer our bodies, well being officers mentioned.

An aerial view exhibits a building website of a brand new makeshift COVID-19 hospital and isolation amenities, in Tsing Yi of Hong Kong, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.  
(AP Picture/Kin Cheung)

Grocery store cabinets have been wiped naked this week as residents stockpiled day by day requirements after stories unfold of a potential citywide lockdown. Authorities have known as for calm and reassured those who meals provides are regular.

In Beijing, Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin backed Hong Kong’s virus management measures.

Wang mentioned the measures “are mandatory, science-based and accountable to successfully forestall and management the epidemic and make sure the well being of Hong Kong residents and foreigners in Hong Kong.”

“We consider that the related measures will additional construct up the worldwide group’s confidence in Hong Kong’s epidemic management, guarantee Hong Kong’s secure and orderly interplay with the worldwide group, and supply a safer and secure enterprise surroundings for worldwide traders in Hong Kong,” Wang mentioned at a day by day briefing Wednesday.