Letters | Hong Kong is fighting yesterday’s Covid-19 battles

Readers ask why Hong Kong’s response to Covid-19 has not evolved since the virus first emerged, argue against ‘living with Covid’, defend the government’s decision to cull hamsters, and argue that ‘zero-Covid’ has benefited the city’s elderly

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Health officials sit outside a block at Kwai Chung Estate on January 23 after the housing complex was placed under lockdown, one of the most drastic measures Hong Kong has taken to maintain its zero-Covid policy. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 7:00am, 29 Jan 2022

I refer to your alarmingly pessimistic front-page headline “Fifth wave ‘could rage for months’” (January 24) which comes from a “government pandemic adviser”, the same “top health adviser” who only 10 days ago optimistically prompted another Post front-page headline “Omicron wave ‘could be over by early February’” (January 14).

Many correspondents to these columns are questioning the capability of our chief executive and her senior officials in handling this pandemic. It is becoming obvious their health advisers do not really have much of a clue when it comes to Covid-19.

Since 2019, this virus has been evolving, but our officials and their advisers seem to be fighting yesterday’s battles, indeed perhaps even from the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) days in 2003. There is now an overwhelming body of data from countries that have already experienced the Delta and Omicron waves, which behave more like a tsunami.

For Hong Kong, probably the most alarming piece of data from the United Kingdom is that the average age of those who have died from Covid is around 80 years. The vaccination rate among our elderly is comparatively low.

Hongkongers deserve a pragmatic response to the actual characteristics of this mutating virus, not emotional or political posturing based on the original Wuhan experience. The elderly, especially the poor, need urgent protection. But the rest of us should be able to handle Omicron without too much difficulty and then get on with our own lives.

Charlie Chan, Mid-Levels