The number of daily cases has increased more than 60 times since the beginning of February and the authorities have closed schools, gyms, cinemas and most public places, while many employees have returned to teleworking status.
The Hong Kong government plans to provide up to 10.000 hotel rooms for patients with COVID-19 as the former British colony is facing a rapid rise in coronavirus cases and local media are reporting that from March the government will make diagnostic tests mandatory.
Some reports, citing sources, say the government plans to test up to one million citizens daily from March and that those who do not comply will be fined more than 1.000 euros. The government did not respond to a request for comment.
The number of daily cases has increased more than 60 times since the beginning of February and the authorities have closed schools, gyms, cinemas and most public places, while many employees have returned to teleworking status.
The Hong Kong health authorities announced today 6.116 cases, a new record, as well as 24 deaths, while since January until today more than 16.000 have been registered.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has reiterated her call on 7,5 million people to support the government's efforts to stem the pandemic as many have grown tired of the toughest restrictive measures in the world, although most other major cities are adapting to coexistence.
Her call, which was made public late last night, came as Chinese President Xi Jinping briefed Hong Kong's leadership that its "highest mission" was to stabilize and control the pandemic.
"With the greatest concern and strong support of President Xi Jinping, the whole of society today must stand hand in hand to overcome the fifth wave of the epidemic and to demonstrate the spirit of Hong Kong to the fullest extent possible. "I am optimistic that, through the joint efforts of the government and the hotel sector, at least 10.000 hotel rooms will be available," Lam said.
In an effort to free up beds to be given to those who need to be isolated, Lam said she has spoken to local hotel owners and that security chief Chris Tang will oversee the operation of the participating hotels.
Hong Kong has adopted the same zero coronavirus strategy, which is followed by mainland China to deal with all the pandemic waves.
But the ease and speed with which the Omicron variant is transmitted has taken the authorities by surprise. Hospitals are operating at full capacity and often above their capacity and some patients with covid-19 are treated in makeshift outdoor treatment facilities outside medical centers in the cold and rain.
China has announced that it will help Hong Kong strengthen its diagnostic tests, hospitalization and quarantine capacity, and provide it with everything it needs - from rapid test packages to protective equipment and fresh vegetables.
Hong Kong has recorded about 30.000 infections since the beginning of the pandemic and about 230 deaths, far fewer than other cities of similar size.
However, health experts have warned that the number of daily cases could reach 28.000 by the end of March, noting the low vaccination rate among the elderly.
in.gr