#16,605
With COVID cases doubling roughly every 48 hours, rumors of an impending lockdown in Hong Kong have become so pervasive that their Legislative Council issued a statement a short while ago denying that it had even been discussed (see below).
The Legislative Council clarifies the ban rumors
February 28, 2022
The Legislative Council Secretariat stated that the Legislative Council and its committees had not held any discussions on matters relating to the ban, and reiterated that meetings held by the Legislative Council were open, transparent and live.
With the Mainland sending more `advisors' to Hong Kong today - more than a week after the original contingent was scheduled to leave - and Beijing's patience running thin, the decision to impose a lockdown may come from a higher level.
Some news headlines from the past couple of hours include:
Coronavirus: Hong Kong confirms more than 34,000 cases as health chief refuses to rule out citywide lockdown for universal testing drive - SCMP
Virus-hit Hong Kong considering lockdown - Reuters/Bangkok Post
Bloomberg News is reporting a run on cold and flu medications as people fear being ordered to `stay-home' for at least 7 days (see Hong Kong Pharmacies Run Out of Flu Meds Amid Covid Panic Buying). There are anecdotal reports on Twitter of bare grocery store shelves as well.
While still officially following the Zero-COVID policies that worked so well keeping COVID under control, as case loads have exploded, the city's ability to quarantine, isolate, and contact trace positive cases has substantially eroded (see Overwhelmed By COVID Cases, Hong Kong Revises Testing & Quarantine Procedures).
Today Chief Executive Carrie Lam released a video speech (transcript excerpts below) on the importance of stabilizing the fifth wave of the epidemic as soon as possible, but acknowledging it could take 2 to 3 months.
In the past week, Hong Kong recorded 117,033 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing the cumulative number of cases since the outbreak began on December 30 last year to 158,683, which is 12 times the total number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong in the past two years. In contrast, the spread of the virus caused by the highly transmissible mutant virus strain Omicron has also been out of control, resulting in a geometric increase in the number of infection cases.
During the unprecedented severe epidemic in Hong Kong, I am very grateful to the public for staying calm, actively cooperating with various anti-epidemic measures, accepting mandatory testing, working at home, and reducing going out in an orderly manner. In the past weekend, the market was sparsely populated, which reflects the concerted efforts of the public to fight against the epidemic.
Hong Kong has been strictly following the strategy of preventing importation from outside and preventing the spread of the virus inside, and has adopted a multi-pronged approach to contain the virus. In order to cope with the fifth wave of the epidemic, the SAR government has continuously invested a lot of resources to strengthen the ability of various anti-epidemic links, but the speed of the virus spread has far exceeded the SAR government's own ability to handle it.
At this critical moment, as the Chief Executive, I submitted a report to the central government in early February, hoping that the state would help. Measures to assist Hong Kong have been introduced continuously, including sending three batches of epidemiological experts and critical care medical experts, mobile testing vehicles, testing technicians, nucleic acid testing personnel, etc. to Hong Kong in batches; entrusting mainland contractors to the Lok Ma Chau Loop and eight other localities in Hong Kong. Build community isolation and treatment facilities at each location; guarantee the supply of medical supplies, donate anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines, and guarantee other mainland supply of fresh food and daily necessities to Hong Kong.
With the support of the strong backing of the central government, the SAR government will follow the important instructions of President Xi Jinping, earnestly assume the main responsibility, take the current overriding task of stabilizing the epidemic situation as soon as possible, mobilize all the forces and resources that can be mobilized, and take all necessary measures. measures to ensure the safety and health of Hong Kong citizens and the overall stability of Hong Kong society.
Dear citizens, the next two to three months will be a critical moment for stabilizing and controlling the epidemic. I announced on February 22 that we will intensify efforts to implement five measures:
(SNIP)
Dear citizens, Hong Kong, the city we all love, has experienced countless challenges in the past, overcame countless difficulties, demonstrated incomparable resilience, and maintained its strong strength. At this moment, the epidemic situation is ruthless and the situation is critical, but with the full support of the central government, Hong Kong will surely be able to turn danger into safety again, win the battle against the epidemic, and allow citizens to return to normal life as soon as possible.
(The above is the text of the video speech delivered by the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet -ngor, to the public on February 28 on stabilizing the fifth wave of the epidemic as soon as possible)
As to what steps will be enacted next, today Dr. Liang Wannian - the leader of the Mainland's NHC COVID Response Expert Team - will arrive to advise the city and presumably update Beijing. He was on the ground in Wuhan two years ago, and his recommendations will likely carry a good deal of weight.
