The government has relaxed most of the social distance measures starting today (29th), only maintaining the mask order and the isolation order for confirmed cases, and is fully moving towards normalcy.
Lu Chongmao, director of the Medical and Health Bureau, said today (29th) that the government's relaxation of policies does not mean giving up on epidemic prevention. He also pointed out that although the virus has mutated and the public's immunity has improved in the past three years, the new crown, flu, and colds have "closed in some places." , but the impact of the new crown on citizens and medical treatment is greater than that of the flu, emphasizing that "we do not want to downplay the impact of the new crown on the public and medical care."
▼On December 28, Li Jiachao announced that most of the epidemic prevention restrictions will be canceled from December 29▼
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Lu Chongmao responded on the radio program whether the new crown pneumonia has become a cold. At this stage, the public’s awareness of the new crown epidemic has increased, coupled with virus mutations and public immunity. The influence of the new crown is indeed different from that of 3 years ago. In some places, it is related to influenza "It's getting closer", but there are differences, "There is no need to be too careful".
COVID-19 still has a greater impact on the medical system than flu
He emphasized that the impact of the new crown on the medical system is greater than that of the flu, but the impact of the two should be superimposed. Medical impact, also said that the government is "relaxing but not giving up" this time.
It doesn't mean that one represents the other, or that the two are the same, that one plus one may be greater than two... I don't want to downplay the impact of the new crown on citizens and medical care... Relax but don't give up.
Director of the Medical and Health Bureau Lu Chongmao
Lu Chongmao: Non-sudden relaxation is a steady return to normal
At present, the number of confirmed cases is still high, and it is pointed out that the timing of relaxation is not appropriate. Lu Chongmao pointed out that the direction of anti-epidemic in the past 6 months has been stable, balancing the effects of anti-epidemic, social costs, and economic momentum, and moving towards the direction of normalization, including two-step elimination Elimination of immigration quarantine, etc., described the relaxation in the past as steady, and believes that the relaxation this time is not sudden.
The medical system has high resilience and the level of epidemic situation near the beginning of the year can still maintain non-emergency services
As for the pressure on the medical system from the relaxation of measures, he said that the medical system in Winterport is under greater pressure every year, but he noticed that the current amount of virus in sewage and the infection rate are no different from those at the beginning of this year, and the effectiveness of the three injections in Hong Kong has reached 94%, the medical system has relatively high resilience under the arrangement of telemedicine and drug delivery. Even if the current epidemic situation is close to the level at the beginning of the year and winter flu is added, the Hospital Authority can still maintain a large number of non-emergency services.
Lu Chongmao, Director of the Medical and Health Bureau.
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Cancellation of quarantine order for close contacts frees up medical staff
He admitted that relaxing some measures may increase the number of infections, but it is not the most important part, and canceling the isolation order for close contacts can also release hospital manpower, because 500 Hospital Authority employees are affected by the isolation order every day. .
When asked last week that he said it was not appropriate to cancel the Vaccine Pass but changed his mind in a short period of time, Lu Chongmao responded that the policy must be adjusted at a certain time, and the cost or benefit should be reconsidered in due course, emphasizing that every stage should be reviewed, and an old The vaccination rate among children is still the most concerning and regrettable issue.
He said that the government will continue to promote vaccination, including schools will continue to educate parents to take their children for injections, and will continue to go to school for vaccination programs, etc., hoping that the willingness of the elderly and children to be vaccinated will not be affected by anti-scientific remarks.
▼On December 28, the government announced the cancellation of the vaccine pass▼
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The responsibility and power of epidemic prevention are returned to the citizens
He added that the quarantine order for close contacts in the past has caused considerable costs to the society. "Some people have been quarantined at home many times for a period of time." It was decided that "it is up to the citizens to decide whether to take leave and see a doctor." Medical staff also have the flexibility to consider whether it is suitable to return to work as soon as possible.
Lu: Review mask order after winter peak
Lu Chongmao also said that he will make adjustments in due course and consider relaxing the mask order, but because there is still a period of time in winter, he will review it again at that time, and reiterated that the epidemic situation is constantly progressing, and the epidemic prevention policy will continue to adjust with changes. It should be accepted."
▼On December 28, the government announced that starting from December 29, no nucleic acid testing will be required when entering the airport▼
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Inbound flights from Japan｜Hong Kong government urges Japan to withdraw the landing restriction order 250 flights with 60,000 people traveling to Japan or missing the epidemic.
Latest｜Vaccine passes will be canceled from today. Cathay Pacific explained in the morning to respond to Japan’s drop-down order. Huiyuan became the crown vaccine pass in Hong Kong, canceled nearly 400,000 people on Thursday who failed to get a "zero injection" and white-collar workers lamented their conflicted emotions