#16,667
Between China's largest city - Shanghai - going into its second week of lockdown, Jilin Province reporting roughly 3,000 COVID cases a day, and Hong Kong continuing to report very high COVID numbers, China's pandemic woes continue.
Attempts to conduct a mandatory city-wide testing scheme in Hong Kong - announced in late February - collapsed under the logistical weight of that endeavor early in March (see Hong Kong: City-wide Testing No Longer A `Priority'). And while Hong is well off the daily high numbers they were reporting a month ago, they are still finding 5,000-6,000 cases a day.
Today Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced a new city-wide testing initiative, consisting of 3 consecutive days of home testing by everyone in the city (7.4 million people).
There are two distinctly different versions of this report. One in Chinese, and the other in English. Since the tone, and the text, of these two reports differs significantly (e.g. `invited' in the English version becomes `required' in the translated Chinese), I've decided to post both versions below.
Semantics aside, Ms. Lam made it clear that the Mandatory city-wide testing scheme had not been abandoned, only postponed.
First the kinder,and gentler, English press release.
April 2nd.
The Government today invited all people in Hong Kong to do a rapid antigen test (RAT) for three days in a row from April 8 to 10.
The invitation came as the Government began distributing anti-epidemic service bags, which include 20 RAT kits, to households across the city.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam explained at a press conference this morning that the goal of the voluntary testing exercise is to identify all infected COVID-19 cases immediately.
“We are seeing a downward trend in the number of cases and the various indicators that we are monitoring - like the sewage tests, like the preliminary positive cases in a restriction-testing declaration, the positive rate among the tests taken at the community testing centres and so on.
“But the absolute numbers are still high. Yesterday, it was close to 6,000 cases. So that suggests that we still have quite a number of silent transmissions in the community. So it will be to the benefit of all of us, to the community at large, to try to identify all these infected cases as soon as possible.”
Because the testing is conducted on a voluntary basis, she encouraged all residents to co-operate by testing themselves, using RAT kits, for three consecutive days. Only people who test positive must report such results to the Department of Health’s Centre for Health Protection within 24 hours.
“It is a voluntary exercise, so we can only appeal to people's co-operation, riding on their aspiration to resume normal daily living as soon as possible and also to be able to travel.
“In order to do that, as I have mentioned many, many times in tackling a public health crisis - whether in vaccination, in testing or in isolation - we need the full co-operation and support of the people. We do not just rely on legal instruments. We have to appeal to people's co-operation, understanding and participation. So this is an exercise of this nature.”
The Chief Executive stressed that the move is not intended as a replacement for its plans of conducting the Compulsory Universal Testing scheme, which may still be necessary and essential to eliminate the spread of the virus in the city.
The Government will have to further monitor the best timing for launching a compulsory universal testing exercise, she added.
Here is the translated Chinese version. You'll notice these two versions carry different information as well.
The city will be tested for three consecutive days from next Friday
April 2, 2022
The government requires all Hong Kong citizens to take a rapid antigen test once a day from the 8th to the 10th of this month and report a positive result within 24 hours. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor emphasized that this move is voluntary and does not replace mandatory testing by the whole people. The authorities will monitor when is the best time for mandatory testing.
Carrie Lam said at the anti-epidemic press conference today that the peak of the fifth wave of the epidemic has passed, and the number of new crown virus infections has continued to decline, but the absolute number of cases is still high. Anti-epidemic measures will be formulated in the future.
She pointed out that the distribution of epidemic prevention service kits began today, and there are 20 sets of rapid antigen test kits. If the rapid antigen test kits of the public are insufficient, they can be replenished at about 90 locations in Hong Kong later.
The authorities will also broadcast promotional videos on different platforms such as TV and YouTube next week to introduce the use of rapid antigen test kits. If the rapid test result is positive, members of the public must declare it through the reporting system of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health within 24 hours, while a negative result is not required to be declared.
The three-day quick test is voluntary. Carrie Lam calls on the public to support, continue to unite as one, and unite to fight the epidemic, in order to respond to social expectations such as an early return to normal life, customs clearance, and the gradual relaxation of social distancing measures from the 21st of this month. She also emphasized, The authorities will provide convenience, including arranging for volunteers to conduct quick tests for vulnerable groups.
Carrie Lam reiterated that the government's stance on the implementation of compulsory nationwide inspections has not changed, and believes that compulsory national inspections are an effective means to achieve the goal of zero clearance.
