Hong Kong Toughens Covid Guidelines as Omicron Circumstances Surge

Hong Kong will institute the strictest social distancing guidelines for the reason that begin of the pandemic to restrict its largest coronavirus outbreak to this point, because the wave of Omicron instances has raised questions. about how lengthy the town can proceed its strict Covid management insurance policies.

Hong Kong’s chief govt officer, Carrie Lam, stated on Tuesday that Hong Kong would require hair salons and locations of worship to shut for 2 weeks, and that not more than two households be allowed to fulfill in personal. Lam, Hong Kong’s chief govt, stated on Tuesday. Public gatherings shall be restricted to 2 folks.

Buying malls, grocery shops and markets will be a part of the listing of public locations the place guests should register with an official contact-tracing app. Individuals who go to these websites, together with eating places, should show they’ve been vaccinated. Fines for failing to adjust to a compulsory inspection order shall be doubled to just about $1,300.

Town of seven.5 million has largely managed to keep away from the worst of the pandemic, recording 213 Covid deaths up to now two years. However the unfold of the extremely transmissible variant of Omicron since late December is threatening to overwhelm Hong Kong’s energetic quarantine and phone tracing efforts. Since final week, it has established a number of day by day highs for the entire variety of new instances, with greater than 600 added on Monday and once more on Tuesday.

The elevated variety of instances pressured the town to cease hospitalizing all Covid sufferers. On Tuesday, they started sending some folks with few or no signs to the federal government quarantine middle at Penny’s Bay. And a few shut contacts beforehand requested to go to Penny’s Bay will now be allowed to isolate at house.

Lam has countered recommendations that the newest wave of instances will power Hong Kong to desert a technique she calls “dynamic Covid zero”.

“Within the struggle towards the epidemic, we have to stand on one philosophy, in any other case we are going to see the measures being modified continually,” she stated on Tuesday. “So at this level we are going to undertake a dynamic zero containment technique.”

Lam stated the danger for the aged is of specific concern as a result of lower than half of the inhabitants over 70 has been immunized. “The danger is rising as a result of there are extra instances of their households and staff,” she stated.