Hong Kong Toughens Covid Guidelines as Omicron Instances Surg

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

Hong Kong’s chief government 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 non-public. Lam, Hong Kong’s chief government, stated on Tuesday. Public gatherings might be restricted to 2 individuals.

Procuring malls, grocery shops and markets will be a part of the record 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 might be doubled to almost $1,300.

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

The elevated variety of instances pressured town to cease hospitalizing all Covid sufferers. On Tuesday, they started sending some individuals 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 residence.

Lam has countered ideas that the most recent wave of instances will power Hong Kong to desert a method she calls “dynamic Covid zero”.

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

Lam stated the chance 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 employees,” she stated.