New crown pneumonia | He Boliang worries about the flow of Omicron into the community, advocating African arrival in Hong Kong to concentrate on Penny's Bay quarantine

The South African variant virus Omicron threatens the world. After two imported cases occurred in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong government required people returning to Hong Kong from 8 countries including South Africa to be quarantined at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center for 7 days before being transferred to a hotel to complete the remaining 14 days of quarantine. .

However, Ho Pak-liang, director of the Infection and Infectious Diseases Center of the University of Hong Kong, expressed strangeness to the new measures today (29th), worrying that the quarantine hotel still has loopholes that have not been plugged, and the virus may flow into the community as a result. He advocated quarantine in Penny's Bay on the 21st.

He also mentioned customs clearance arrangements. He believes that Omicron will have a certain impact on Hong Kong and the mainland's customs clearance. It is estimated that the mainland government's "not assured" that the quarantine exemption measures involving crew members is the biggest obstacle. I believe that the Hong Kong government must make appropriate concessions to clear the customs.

▼Under the 11.20 epidemic, citizens met with relatives and friends on the other side across the Shenzhen River▼

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Worried about quarantine hotel loopholes did not plug the virus and flow into the community

The Hong Kong government announced a few days ago that non-Hong Kong residents in 8 areas in southern Africa will be closed. Those arriving in Hong Kong from these areas will have to go to the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center for 7 days before being transferred to the hotel to complete the remaining 14 days of quarantine. .

He Boliang said in the morning on the Hong Kong and Taiwan program "Millennium" that the arrangement was "strange" and the government did not elaborate on it.

Promote quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center for all 21 days

He believes that the number of people returning to Hong Kong from these areas is not large. "Your transfer involves a lot of administrative arrangements, and it may not be appropriate for the quarantine person himself." He also pointed out that there are still loopholes in the quarantine hotel that have not been plugged. He suggested that the government Arrange for all relevant inbound students to complete 21-day quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center.

There are not many people returning to Hong Kong from these areas (South Africa, etc.). Your transfer involves a lot of administrative arrangements, and it may not be appropriate for the quarantine personnel themselves.

Omicron has a certain impact on the customs clearance between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Although Hong Kong has the conditions for small clearance with the Mainland, there are some problems that the two places have not reached a consensus. The biggest problem is that the Mainland government is uneasy about the quarantine exemption measures involving crew members.

Ho Pak Leung, Director of the Infection and Infectious Diseases Centre of the University of Hong Kong

He Boliang expects Omicron to have a certain impact on customs clearance between China and Hong Kong

When asked whether the new variant of Omicron virus will affect customs clearance, He Bailiang believes that Omicron "has a certain impact" on customs clearance between Hong Kong and the Mainland. Although Hong Kong has the conditions to "small customs clearance" with the Mainland, there are still some issues that there is no consensus between the two places. The biggest problem is that the mainland government feels "not assured" about the quarantine exemption measures involving crew members. Once the virus enters the community, even sporadic cases may cause the virus to spread to the mainland, leading to major outbreaks in many provinces and cities.

▼11.23 A group of mainland experts visited Wanning, Taikoo Place, Quarry Bay, and Han Wah Middle School in Siu Sai Wan ▼

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He also pointed out that Omicron has mutated in many places, worrying that the effectiveness of the vaccine will be greatly reduced, which means that even if the vaccine is vaccinated, it may not be able to protect against the virus, the transmission chain is difficult to cut, and the effectiveness of pre-visiting severe illness may also be reduced.

However, he believes that it does not mean that there is no need for injections. "Always the vaccine has a certain effect, just take a step back. Even if the prevention of severe illness is half the effect, it can actually help many people."

Producing a new generation of vaccines may require six months to urge the Hong Kong government to take measures to prevent Omicron

He also pointed out that many high-risk people in Hong Kong refused to receive injections due to incorrect information. He emphasized that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the virus. Major vaccine manufacturers have the ability to produce a new generation of vaccines. Up to 3 months to half a year, just as the vaccine for delta has not yet been approved, it is recommended that the government absorb the experience of dealing with delta, and measures should be taken to prevent Omicron during this vaccine vacuum.

▼The situation of citizens using safe travel to enter government premises▼

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Zeng Qiyin said that Omicron or the vaccine reduction effect promotes closed-loop management of the crew

Zeng Qiyin, the co-chairman of the Infectious Disease Advisory Committee of the Medical Association, also stated on the commercial platform that the Omicron variant virus has a rapid spread and may weaken the effectiveness of the vaccine. He believes that it is necessary to strengthen the "external protection" to prevent the introduction of new variant viruses into the community, including arrangements. All people arriving in Hong Kong from South Africa and areas with outbreaks of Omicron variant virus will complete 21-day quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Center.

He also urged the government to tighten crew quarantine arrangements, including the implementation of closed-loop management and cancellation of exemptions, and emphasized that the government must make decisive decisions.

Coexisting with the virus, easy to produce variant virus, once prayed: Think twice about whether it is feasible

Regarding the strategy of "coexisting with the virus" adopted by many overseas countries, Zeng Qiyin believes that this move will easily lead to the emergence of new variant viruses, and it is necessary to think twice about whether this strategy is still feasible.

He also pointed out that citizens should also be vaccinated to prevent the epidemic and reduce travel to crowded places.

Vaccine Passport | Catering industry worries about business decline by 30%, the old district hurts the most. Xu Shuchang: Implementation of the general trend of customs clearance | Xu Shuchang: Omicron's attack is stronger than Delta, and it does not flow into the community temporarily without affecting customs clearance