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Two months ago Hong Kong - in an attempt to align their COVID policies with those of the Mainland, and hopefully allow people to travel freely to the Mainland before the Winter Olympics - Tightened Hospital COVID Discharge Criteria & Ordered a 14-Day Post Discharge Isolation Period.
Both steps were ordered before the emergence of the Omicron variant, and at time when HK routinely reported a handful of (mostly) imported COVID cases each day.In early November, they rolled out COVID Booster Shots.
Although cases, including Omicron variants, are on the rise in Hong Kong (25 reported on Dec 25th), so far they've managed to keep the virus from running wild.
But today their Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, announced their growing concerns, and some details of how they intend to deal with the growing threat of Omicron.
The government formulates a contingency plan for mutant virus strains
December 27, 2021
The Secretary for Food and Health, Chen Zhaoshi, stated that the government has formulated a contingency plan in response to the possibility of a fifth wave of epidemics caused by the Omicron mutant virus strain and a community outbreak. She once again urged the public to get the third dose of the new crown vaccine as soon as possible.
Chen Zhaoshi inspected the work of public hospitals in response to the COVID-19 epidemic and the peak winter service situation today, and then met with the media. She said that the Omicron mutant virus strains are coming fiercely, and they continue to break out all over the world. In some places, they have replaced the Delta mutant virus strain as the mainstream. Hong Kong will inevitably face challenges and risks.
Before Christmas, she chaired a meeting to review the local testing capabilities, quarantine facilities and isolation treatment facilities with the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority, and formulate contingency plans to prevent and respond to the fifth wave of epidemics in Hong Kong and outbreaks in the community once Omicron triggers , She said, social distancing measures will also be adjusted by then.
Chen Zhaoshi said that the World Health Organization and other studies have shown that Omicron may affect the effectiveness of existing vaccines. The Joint Scientific Committee of the Center for Health Protection has discussed and recommended that citizens receive the third dose of vaccine as soon as possible to protect themselves and society.
Fan Hung Ling, Chairman of the Hospital Authority, who met with the media, said that there are currently 900 negative pressure beds in the Hong Kong Infection Control Center of North Lantau Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital, which are in sufficient supply. Once a new wave of the epidemic breaks out, the community isolation treatment facility at Asia Expo will be restarted and an additional 500 hospital beds can be provided by then. In addition, medical staff have adequate personal protective equipment, and there are contingency plans for personnel deployment.
