The fifth wave of the epidemic broke out in Hong Kong, and the mutant virus Omicron entered the community. The government announced the extension of the tightening of social distancing measures. The public has no hope of having a New Year's dinner in the city until the third day of the Lunar New Year.
The Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, said on a TV program today (16th) that as there are still potential transmission chains in the community, it is necessary to extend the 14-day social distancing measures to cut off the transmission chain. The government will review six major indicators, including: immediate reproduction rate, The number of confirmed cases, unknown source, tracking situation, vertical transmission and sewage monitoring will determine the relaxation of the measures. In the future, the premises will need to operate with vaccine bubbles. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer is researching a mobile APP for premises operators to check the citizen's needle card.
Regarding the outside world's criticism of the government's ineffectiveness, which has led to long queues at the testing center and vaccine center, Chen Zhaoshi emphasized that the government has learned from the experience of the past two years and is preparing manpower to deal with the fifth wave, otherwise the epidemic will break out exponentially. Be tolerant and endure for a while.” After the epidemic is under control, everything will return to normal.
+1
Extending social distancing for 14 days is free from "retraction and release" Chen Zhaoshi: There are still hidden transmission chains in the community
Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Friday (14th) that the social distancing measures would be extended from the 14th to the third day of the new year. Chen Zhaoshi pointed out in an interview with the TVB program "Speak Clearly" that the government's assessment and analysis showed that the epidemic was not completely under control. Several indicators show that the community still has a hidden transmission chain, and it needs to be extended for 14 days to cut the transmission chain: "If it is only extended for 7 days, the citizens may be disappointed by the 7th day. For the sake of caution, I don't want to be like the previous waves. Take it back and release it, the (epidemic) time will be long.”
▼On January 14, the government announced that the ban on dine-in in the evening market was extended to February 3 on the third day of the new year▼
+18
If the six major indicators are positive, it is expected to relax social distance: the principle must be better than 𠵱home
Chen Zhaoshi said that the current blocking of Omicron has achieved initial results. In the past week, there have been more than 30 closure actions, 4 to 5 communities are closed every night, and more than 400 mandatory testing announcements have been issued, and 1.1 million tests have been carried out. These indicators include real-time reproduction rate, number of confirmed cases, unknown source, tracking situation, vertical transmission and sewage monitoring. If the number of cases continues to decline and the chain of transmission is cut off, conditions will be relaxed.”
Easing restrictions with vaccine bubbles
However, Chen Zhaoshi emphasized that even if social distancing measures are relaxed, they must be based on vaccine bubbles. If restaurants want to resume dine-in dinners, they must cooperate. She also revealed that the Information Technology Office is studying mobile applications for premises operation. Users use it to scan citizens' pin cards. As for whether the APP will display the names or appearances of people, she pointed out that technically it is necessary to prove the identity of citizens, and everything is still under study. Chen Zhaoshi said that the first priority is to reopen the evening market for dine-in, and discussions with restaurants have already begun. The relevant policy bureaus will also contact other premises. Gradual relaxation is a more prudent approach.
▼On January 12th, Tuen Mun reappeared in line to detect people and dragons▼
+2
Described that the government has been preparing for the arrival of the fifth wave and hoped that the residents of Tuen Mun would tolerate it for a while
In the past two weeks, there have been long queues at the testing center and the vaccination center. The external criticism is no different from the past few waves of epidemics. Chen Zhaoshi pointed out that the government has learned a lot of experience in the past two years to increase quarantine facilities, isolation wards and testing capabilities. There is still assistance in setting up an infection control center to face the challenge, but the virus is constantly mutating and needs to be re-understood, "Everything is so fast, no matter the measures are introduced, so the spread is so fast, it has been passed to the sixth generation in two weeks, the system is There are some challenges."
Chen also reiterated that the government has been making preparations for the arrival of the fifth wave. "Because of effective measures, there will be no geometric outbreak first. If there is a geometric outbreak, more people will be needed to achieve dynamic clearing." She said. He continued that the government encourages residents of Tuen Mun to be willing to do all the tests, and will do all they can at the testing stations and testing capacity, "We have only one purpose, to stop Omicron as soon as possible, and it will be restored after a period of time. I hope that I can cooperate, be tolerant, and tolerate the inconvenience at the moment. Just a while."
Precisely because of the effective measures, there will be no geometric-level explosion. If there is a geometric-level explosion, more people will be required to achieve dynamic clearing first... We only have one purpose, to block Omicron as soon as possible, and we will be able to do it after a period of time. Recovery, it is inconvenient at the moment, I hope to cooperate, be tolerant, and bear with me for a while. Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan
Some people believe that the fifth wave of the outbreak was caused by Cathay Pacific’s violation of the exemption conditions, and the government should strengthen the quarantine. Chen Zhaoshi said that any quarantine time is based on science, and try not to let the virus flow into the community. Any exemption arrangements must be followed. To keep the risk under control, a short quarantine period is essential to minimise the risk of the virus entering the community.
▼1.15 Enclosure inspection of Dongmanlou, Dakengdong Village▼
+1
"Bitterness first, sweetness later" Ji-Yu food restaurants implement vaccine bubbles on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Chen Zhaoshi said that you can travel with ease and release the needle card Omicron｜Chen Zhaoshi: The goal must be cleared. No flower market Chen Zhaoshi: Vaccine bubbles are not enough to ensure Hong Weimin's birthday banquet | Chen Zhaoshi: More than 180 people attended, facilities are nervously pushed 3 quarantine hotels
