#16,569
Four days ago, in Hong Kong: A&E Departments in Various Districts `Seriously overloaded' Due To COVID Surge, we looked at the growing impact of what was then a record-setting 1,000 cases in a day.
Since then, those numbers have more than doubled, with 2071 cases confirmed today (and as many as 4,500 preliminarily positive). Depending which number you want to use, this is somewhere between a 20 to 45-fold increase over just 2 weeks ago.
Aside from 3 moderate outbreaks during the first 12 months of the pandemic (see chart below), Hong Kong has actively pursued a `ZERO-COVID' policy, and has enjoyed some of the lowest COVID numbers of any city of its size in the world.
Yesterday Hong Kong Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam described the situation:
The onslaught of the fifth wave of the epidemic has dealt a heavy blow to Hong Kong and overwhelmed the city's capacity of handling. The tremendous surge in the number of confirmed cases in recent days has lengthened the lead time for admitting people who test positive to isolation facilities. The situation is highly undesirable and the HKSAR Government feels worried and sorry about it.The Government will start working through the task force with the Mainland as soon as possible to enhance Hong Kong's capabilities of testing and isolation facilities by all means; meanwhile, it will implement measures to alleviate the anxieties of those members of the public waiting at home for isolation, including the distribution of information kits, setting up of a designated enquiry hotline, and provision of online diagnostic services. The Food and Health Bureau and the Hospital Authority will map out and announce details as soon as possible."
Today's (translated) update from the CHP follows:
More than 2,000 confirmed cases in residential care homes for the elderly
February 14, 2022
There were 2,071 new positive test cases for the novel coronavirus in Hong Kong, 19 of which were imported from overseas, the patients were from an Indonesian flight, and the rest were local infections; the initial positive cases were about 4,500.
Zhang Zhujun, director of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, said at a briefing today that among the confirmed cases, 32 patients were suspected of being infected with Delta virus, and 1,957 patients were suspected of being infected with Omicron virus.
There are more cases of positive tests or preliminary positive tests in institutions. These institutions are located in Sham Shui Po, Tuen Mun, Prince Edward, Sha Tin, To Kwa Wan and other areas. Among them, there are more confirmed cases in Tai Hing Village Neighborhood Counselling Association Tai Hing Dormitory. Many people are required to be quarantined; the cases in the Prince’s Hou Ai Nursing Home are concentrated on the first floor of the home, and all the people on this floor may be subject to quarantine; the Jun Yi (Scenic View) Home for the Elderly in Mountain View Shopping Centre in Tuen Mun has recorded preliminary positive cases, and the hospital A2 People in the area may be subject to quarantine.
Four deaths were recorded in the past two days. All the deceased were males, aged between 73 and 82. Two of them died before admission to hospital, and the virus test results were preliminary positive.
Sewage samples from Lei Shing Building, Lei On Estate, Shatin, tested positive for the new coronavirus. The authorities found 44 preliminary positive test cases during yesterday’s enclosure testing operation. In view of the extremely high risk of infection in Lee Shing Building, the government restricted the building. Action with testing announcement extended until tomorrow.
There was an initial positive test case in Wah Yu Building in Wah Fu (1) Village, and the sewage sample from the building was positive for the new coronavirus . mandatory testing before.
The Government has set up a dedicated webpage to provide relevant information and health advice on COVID-19.
Today, the HK government announced that Schools continue to suspend face-to-face teaching, primary 6 exams are cancelled, and that starting tomorrow, children as young as 3 years of age will be eligible for the Sinovac vaccine.
Children over three years old can get Sinovac vaccine starting Tuesday
February 13, 2022
The government announced that starting from Tuesday, the minimum age for vaccination of Sinovac will be lowered to three years old, and the appointment service will start at 8 a.m. on the same day;
The Government stated that the Secretary for Food and Health had earlier approved the extension of the applicable age of the vaccine after referring to the opinions of the Advisory Committee of Experts on the COVID-19 Vaccine and taking into account the threat to public health of the disease and the benefits of reducing the applicable age of Sinovac vaccines outweighing the risks. to cover persons aged three or above.
Parents or guardians can make an appointment online for their children to be vaccinated with Sinovac vaccines at community vaccination centers or general outpatient clinics designated by the Hospital Authority, and must bring the original identity document of the child and the signed parental consent form to accompany the child for vaccination in person .
The government reminds the public that after the first dose of Sinovac vaccine, both children and adults can receive the second dose 28 days apart.
The collapse of Hong Kong's much vaunted `Zero-COVID' policy in the face of a more transmissible Omicron variant has undoubtedly sent shudders through Mainland officials, who are heavily committed to the policy that the virus can be controlled.
Given the lack of community immunity, and a less-than-robust Sinovac vaccine, the Omicron variant could find a target-rich environment should it begin spreading widely on the Mainland.
