On the eve of the July 1st handover and the change of government, the Chief Secretary for Administration, the current Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Chen Guoji, and the remaining Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Tsang Kwok-wai, were diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia and are being quarantined according to the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.
Zeng Qiyin, co-chairman of the Advisory Committee on Infectious Diseases of the Medical Association, said today (24th) that if the infected officials have a low viral load and have been vaccinated, they may turn negative before July 1.
Zeng Qiyin said on the Hong Kong and Taiwan program "Millennium Times" that community infection cases and transmission chains have increased, and it is not surprising that infected people appear in some institutions. , reflecting that the amount of virus is not necessarily high, such as wearing a mask when contacting others, the risk of transmission is relatively low.
As for whether infected officials can attend activities related to the July 1st return, it depends on the nucleic acid test results. If the virus load is not high and sufficient vaccines have been vaccinated, there is a chance to turn negative before July 1st.
Asked whether the government's anti-epidemic arrangements for the July 1st event are sufficient, Zeng Qiyin believes that it depends on whether the attendees have reduced their contact with foreigners, undergone daily nucleic acid tests, adopted point-to-point travel, did not take public transportation, and were quarantined before attending, etc. , I believe that complying with the relevant high-standard epidemic prevention requirements to clarify whether one is an invisible patient, the risk is relatively low.
Chief Executive-designate Lee Ka-chao said that he is formulating a strategy to reopen Hong Kong's borders, clear customs with the mainland and the world, and consider allowing travelers to quarantine at home and shorten the hotel quarantine period.
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Zeng Qiyin suggested that the first stage could be shortened to a five-day quarantine period
The epidemic has lasted for more than two years. Chief executive-designate Li Jiachao said that he is formulating a strategy to reopen Hong Kong's borders, clear customs with the mainland and the world, and consider allowing travelers to quarantine at home and shorten the hotel quarantine period.
Zeng Qiyin said that it is ideal to adopt gradual relaxation. He believes that the most important thing at this stage is whether invisible patients can be identified as soon as possible. For example, whether early or intensive nucleic acid testing will be required to identify visitors to Hong Kong with mutant virus strains as soon as possible to reduce risks. , it is suggested that the quarantine period can be shortened to five days on a trial basis in the first stage.
Zeng Qiyin suggested that in the first stage, the quarantine period can be shortened to five days on a trial basis.
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In addition, the Centre for Health Protection found that 26 diners at the Harbour Restaurant in Zall Plaza, Tuen Mun were infected in the evening market on June 16. Together with the infection of close contacts, a total of 27 people were recruited. The group also involved Omicron BA.2.12.1.
Zeng Qiyin believes that BA.2.12.1 has become the mainstream virus strain in the world, with rapid growth and spread, and has entered the hospital. If the elderly who have not received all the shots are infected, the risk of severe illness and death is high. Residential homes should be reminded to take adequate precautionary measures.
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