The government said yesterday (7th) that after preliminary review of the data and scientific analysis, the "circuit breaker mechanism" of individual routes will be suspended from now on, and those arriving in Hong Kong will need to add a nucleic acid test on the third day.
The government believes that the social cost caused by the "circuit breaker mechanism" is quite large, and more frequent nucleic acid testing for arrivals will be more effective in blocking imported cases. Therefore, this decision is made.
However, with 3,028 new cases in Hong Kong yesterday, the society will inevitably link the two matters and think that the government intends to relax the "foreign defense import".
Most of the political circles agree with this approach, considering it is convenient for people arriving in Hong Kong, and at the same time suggest more explanations to clear up public misunderstandings.
As for whether the next step should be to shorten the number of hotel quarantine days, the political circles are still divided.
Tang Jiahua: The last government has reviewed the temporary change of office is the responsibility
After the news was announced, Tang Jiahua, a member of the Executive Council, said on Facebook: "The purpose of the mechanism is to force airlines to seriously deal with the anti-epidemic requirements, but it is often innocent passengers who suffer. Not only are the itinerary arrangements completely out of control, but even hotel deposits may be confiscated. It's very unfair. The new government has taken a drastic approach, showing its daring and courageousness, which makes people look at it differently; I hope there will be an early breakthrough in customs clearance."
When receiving an inquiry from "Hong Kong 01", Tang Jiahua said that the epidemic prevention policy needs to be changed according to the situation. Although the current number of cases has increased compared with that in May, most of them are not serious cases and have not brought down the medical system. The five waves of the epidemic are obviously different, so the handling method should not be "set in stone", so this does not show that there is any major problem with the policies of the previous government, but the timing is different.
In addition, the government is also very concerned about the threat to Hong Kong's economic and international financial center status, so it will also respond in terms of policies.
He also added that the government had already reviewed the effectiveness and impact of the circuit breaker mechanism long before the government re-election, but believed that it was not suitable to make too significant changes to policies on the eve of the re-election, so as not to "tie the hands and feet" of the next government. Like the salary issue, I think it's a responsible approach.
Tang Jiahua revealed that the previous government has reviewed the effectiveness and impact of the circuit breaker mechanism, but it is not appropriate to make major changes on the eve of the election, so as not to affect the operation of the current government.
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Chen Kaixin pointed out that the practice of smart personal testing keeps the bottom line of "external defense input"
Chen Kaixin, a former political assistant to the Food and Health Bureau and a member of the Legislative Council Election Committee, believes that the government's simultaneous suspension of the "circuit breaker mechanism" and increased arrangements for nucleic acid testing on the third day of arrival in Hong Kong are a smart move to balance opening up and respond to the epidemic.
Chen Kaixin said that the summer vacation is approaching, and many international students will take flight back to Hong Kong. They have booked air tickets and quarantine hotels. If the flight "melts down", students will have to rebook air tickets and hotels, which also disrupts the itinerary. When a certain number of passengers arrive in Hong Kong for testing, the diagnosis will be cut off. For those who have tested negative, they will feel deprived of their right to return to Hong Kong.”
She believes that suspending the "circuit breaker mechanism" will reduce the confusion in airplanes and hotels, which will not only facilitate returning students and businessmen to come to Hong Kong, but also help the tourism industry. Even if the cost of testing increases, it is acceptable.
Chen Kaixin emphasized that while the government suspended the "circuit breaker mechanism", it added that people arriving in Hong Kong had to undergo nucleic acid testing on the third day, so as to maintain the bottom line of "foreign import prevention" through personal testing.
Chen Kaixin believes that the suspension of the "circuit breaker mechanism" will reduce the chaos in the plane and hotel, and facilitate the arrival of international students and businessmen in Hong Kong. Even if the cost of testing increases, it is acceptable.
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Yao Boliang points out that the circuit breaker mechanism is unreasonable and "plays with disabled" airlines
The suspension of the "circuit breaker" is good news for the travel industry.
The flight "circuit breaker" became even more outdated after the government lifted the ban on flights to 9 countries on April 1. At that time, once an individual flight had 3 passengers diagnosed, it would be suspended for 7 days. In the first 20 days, the mechanism was triggered 25 times, causing foreign Airlines are reluctant to resume flights to Hong Kong.
Yao Pak-leung, a member of the tourism industry who has been calling for the cancellation of the mechanism, said that since then, complaints from the industry and the public have been incessant.
In May, the government raised the trigger threshold to 5 passengers or 5% of all passengers diagnosed, whichever is higher, but Yao believes that "there are many unreasonable and unfair places in the mechanism itself, and the circuit breaker threshold is good. Low, I observed that when I arrived in Yijia in July, there were already 6 or 7 flights that blew up and crashed back to Hong Kong during the peak period. These people have no way to ask for help. Where to fly, and local airlines are staying to fly (Hong Kong).”
Yao Boliang said that from the last session to the current session, he joked that he did not forget to mention two things when he met the director of the Medical and Health Bureau, Lu Chongmao, on the return day, namely, the cancellation of the circuit breaker and the quarantine of the entry hotel to reduce the spicy food. The new government will send a letter on the first working day of this Monday. Ask to follow up.
The new government took office for just a few days, and the circuit breaker was suspended. Yao Da praised the new team for "acting quickly" and listening to opinions to make adjustments, describing the style of seeking truth from facts and making breakthroughs in scientific decision-making.
Jiang Yuhuan, a member of the election committee who has been paying attention to the entry-exit quarantine requirements, also described a surprise: "I said earlier that the previous dynasty has not changed. After melting one class after another, I really have to wait. It's better to be late than never to arrive. The new government Great performance!"
Does the change mean that the anti-epidemic strategy and the priority of internal and external customs clearance have changed?
Jiang Yuhuan believes that the suspension of the circuit breaker mechanism has been carefully considered, and there is nothing wrong with evaluating the interaction with the mainland customs clearance. I went to Europe this month, and no one was wearing a mask on the streets. This year, Europe and the United States have opened their doors one after another. The world has changed so much, and there must be a lot of pressure. The new government is adjusting its measures in this direction. "Hong Kong is so special and connected to the world. It may not be interrupted for a long time. It is very difficult to let it go. The mainland does not want to see it, and it is necessary to consolidate its status as an international financial center."
Yao Boliang believes that the circuit breaker mechanism is unreasonable and will cause trouble to airlines and people arriving in Hong Kong.
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Yao Boliang said that for internal and external customs clearance, you need to walk on two legs, and there is no need to presume one priority.
He believes that the whole society wants to clear customs with the mainland without quarantine as soon as possible, but the mainland has concerns and needs for prevention and control, and Hong Kong also depends on the actual conditions. He asked, "I can't reach the mainland, so I need to wait?" He said that the anti-epidemic should not be Internal and external are often opposed to each other and must be handled properly.
Jiang Yuhuan also said that each flight that was interrupted affects hundreds of passengers, "It's so desolate, you are going to think about yourself, no wonder everyone's words disturb the people, and Hong Kong's image is so bad! It's a good start to cancel the circuit breaker at home. "
Jiang Yuhuan pays attention to whether the quarantine hotel is enough for emergency shelters when necessary
According to this epidemic prevention idea, the next step to adjust is the quarantine hotel and quarantine period.
Yao Bailiang said that the Chief Executive has expressed his agreement with this direction at the Legislative Council Q&A session. He hoped that the government would consider the "334" plan that he had proposed as early as May, that is, those who have received all three injections are only required to be quarantined in hotels for 3 days, and the remaining 4 days. It can be transferred to home quarantine; the vacated quarantine hotel room can be converted to a quarantine station before entering the mainland. "Returning to the mainland and quarantine in Hong Kong is a staycation, and effective quarantine measures must be taken to prevent imported cases from entering the mainland. .” He said that the anti-epidemic strategy must balance normal life, the principle is not to create pressure on the medical system, and at the same time to keep serious cases at a low level, I believe it is a social consensus.
Jiang Yuhuan believes that it is entering the peak period for overseas Hong Kong people to return to Hong Kong. "The problem of staying in quarantine hotels must be dealt with. It will not be enough to open more than one house. The fastest room is 2,000 to 4,000 square cabins. In a few days, we should hurry first, as there is enough supply in the hotel, and then there is no need to fry it. Next, we will consider handling the requirements of hotel quarantine, but it is not too long, and tourists, students, and business customers will be affected.”
A large number of international students will return to Hong Kong during the summer vacation. Jiang Yuhuan is concerned about whether there are enough quarantine hotels.
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Chen Kaixin stressed that home isolation should not be carried out early and advocated tracing the footprints of those returning to Hong Kong
There are different opinions in parliament on whether the hotel quarantine period should be shortened.
Before this change, people arriving in Hong Kong were required to undergo nucleic acid testing at the quarantine hotel on the 1st and 5th day, plus a negative quick test on the 6th and 7th day. From the 8th day, they could self-monitor at home for 7 days, while the 9th and 7th day Nucleic acid testing is required on the 12th.
Chen Kaixin pointed out that the current variant virus mainly starts to develop on the 3rd and 4th day, and adding the third day test can detect it in time and reduce the risk of transmission in quarantine hotels.
"The most important thing is to isolate at home early to prevent the virus from flowing into the community."
Chen Kaixin is worried that if there is another variant of the virus, delaying the onset of the disease until the 7-day hotel quarantine is over will bring risks to the community. Therefore, she believes that people arriving in Hong Kong should also have tracking measures, and they can make good use of new technologies or re-engineering. Use the tracking wristband to track it within a certain period of time.
Politicians accuse Lu Chongmao of solving obstacles to increase testing and suggest more explanations on policies
Some politicians pointed out that the former Food and Health Secretary Chen Zhaoshi once asked the testing company to add a nucleic acid test on the third day for those arriving in Hong Kong, but the testing company refused at that time because it was technically impossible.
It is understood that Lu Chongmao discussed with the testing company before and after taking office, and finally solved the obstacle to increase testing on the third day.
Politicians assessed that the government is suspending the "circuit breaker mechanism" this time, and it is a practice that can be restarted immediately if the epidemic is serious.
The person believes that the number of new cases in Hong Kong has exceeded 3,000, and that the suspension of the "circuit breaker mechanism" may lead the public to misunderstand that the "importance of foreign defense" is relaxed. Explain the full policy guidelines.
The circuit breaker mechanism is suspended | The shortage of quarantine hotel rooms will only be available at the end of August, and there will be 12,000 flights in seven days. The circuit breaker will be suspended from now. Affect the overall situation of anti-epidemic
