The fifth wave of the new crown virus outbreak is out of control. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced today (22nd) the details of the nationwide testing and the anti-epidemic strategy for the next two months.
She said that the current problem in Hong Kong is that hospitals are "exploding factories", so indoor gymnasiums have been gradually turned into treatment and respite centers for the elderly.
In addition, the government has also received central support to build community isolation facilities and a temporary hospital in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.
As for foreign import prevention, the measures will be extended until April 20, including the flight circuit breaker mechanism, that is, Hong Kong people stranded in high-risk areas are still unable to return to Hong Kong.
Lam Cheng apologized for this, "If there are people from Hong Kong who stay in these 9 countries, they have to wait for a long time to return, or book a hotel thinking that they will return. I'm sorry, I won't be able to return before April 20. sigh."
Carrie Lam is confident that the hospital will deal with critically ill patients: many are not critically ill, forcing the factory to explode
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said that before implementing universal testing, Hong Kong must strengthen its capacity for early treatment.
She pointed out that although the symptoms of the Omicron variant virus strain are mild, there are currently 49 severe and critical cases, and she believes that public hospitals are capable of handling dozens of severe cases, but she emphasized: "The biggest problem depends on the family, and many are not severe. The patient forced the factory to explode.”
She counted the current number of hospital beds, and especially thanked the central government for building a temporary hospital in the same period last year, which provided about 820 beds. "If there is no such facility, it will be even more difficult today." She pointed out that the current HA and the temporary hospital have a total of There are more than 3,000 hospital beds and about 1,000 hospital beds in AWE's community treatment facilities, all of which have been fully put into service.
▼On February 17th, the situation of temporary additional beds outside the emergency room of Caritas Hospital▼
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Gymnasium continues to be transformed into elderly treatment and respite centre
Carrie Lam believes that the current number of hospital beds is still insufficient, emphasizing that it is not acceptable for the elderly to wait for admission in outdoor tents.
She pointed out that the central government has agreed to appoint a mainland construction team to build a community isolation facility in the Lok Ma Chau Loop.
In addition, due to the vast area of the site, the central government will support the construction of one more hospital, which is similar in size to the temporary hospital completed last year.
In addition to the measures supported by the central government, the government has also successively renovated indoor gymnasiums into treatment and respite centers for the elderly.
Carrie Lam stressed that the elderly living in must be referred by the HA to relieve the pressure on the HA's hospital beds.
For example, the hospital has approved the discharge of the elderly, but the institution cannot accept them. In this case, they can be referred to the elderly respite center. The government has opened the Choi Wing Road Sports Centre and another Shek Kip Mei Indoor Sports Centre, which will be used again if necessary. More gyms.
▼On February 20, Cairong Road Gymnasium will be temporarily used to receive those who are waiting for admission▼
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As for the measures to prevent foreign imports, all of them have been extended to April 20.
Lin Zheng pointed out that flights from 9 countries and regions are currently suspended from arriving in Hong Kong. Due to the raging local epidemic, the high diagnosis rate of people arriving in Hong Kong has triggered the flight "circuit breaker mechanism". This measure will also be extended to April 20.
She also pointed out that depending on the development of the epidemic and the imported cases of flights, different countries will be continuously added or deleted.
"So there is no way, I'm really embarrassed. If there are Hong Kong people staying in these 9 countries, they have to wait for a long time to return, or book a hotel thinking that they will return. I'm sorry, before April 20th. I won't be able to return."
▼On February 22, citizens lined up for testing under cold wind and rain▼
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