Letters | Why Carrie Lam struggles to define what ‘dynamic zero Covid’ means

Readers discuss confusion on ‘dynamic zero Covid’, the need for testing centres, frustration over perceived half measures, and monitoring sex services

Coronavirus Hong Kong

Letters

Published: 11:30am, 10 Feb 2022

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There seems to be some confusion about what “dynamic zero Covid” means. When Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was asked, she said she did not come up with the term and could not give a definitive explanation.

Many commentators interpret “dynamic zero Covid” as “pursuing zero Covid no matter what”, by sparing no effort to stop the spread through contact tracing and lockdowns. Another logical interpretation of the phrase is “adapting the zero-Covid strategy according to the situation”, taking into account what you can afford to do financially, what is allowed by law and is wise to do while balancing the interests of society as a whole as the virus mutates.

There are two broad options for adapting Covid-19 strategies. The first involves optimising defences against Covid-19 and taking into consideration the costs, benefits and constraints, such as hospital capacity. This is very hard as you have to put a relative price on many things, such as human life and the economy.

This is the approach adopted to some extent by countries such as the United Kingdom and Denmark. They have selectively moved away from testing, contact tracing, social distancing and border controls if the benefits are deemed to be greater than the social costs and social agreement can be gained.

The second option can be thought of as a special case of the first option. It involves pursuing “zero Covid” as much as you can reasonably afford, considering the costs of contact tracing, social distancing and border controls. Under this option, human life is treated as priceless. This is the approach adopted by most countries, including mainland China.

04:04

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However, given the differences in the costs involved, only the mainland is still able to work towards zero Covid. Most other countries are forced to relax contact tracing and social distancing policies as the costs become unmanageable. Ironically, as you lose the battle against Covid-19, you could achieve herd immunity and are relieved from the burden of combating the virus.

It is hard to believe our chief executive does not know what “dynamic zero Covid” means. It is more likely that her policy is to pursue the second option while adapting the strategy according to the situation, but it would be politically sensitive and difficult to spell out the differences between “adapting the zero-Covid strategy” and “zero Covid no matter what”.

If she is not careful, she could jeopardise the opportunity for an agreement for quarantine-free travel to the mainland for Hongkongers. These days, some political opportunists are pushing the government to strictly copy mainland policies or even suggesting that deviation from a zero-Covid strategy violates the national security law. It is thus understandable that even Lam has to say she cannot authoritatively explain her own policy.

D.M. Chiu, Sha Tin

More test centres needed as fifth wave surges

Given the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, why are more testing centres not being set up?

For example, consider that the Centre for Health Protection issued compulsory testing orders for Sun Chui Estate, New Town Plaza and the housing estates above New Town Plaza. However, there are just a handful of testing locations in the district. This is just one example; I have heard similar stories of this happening in Tuen Mun and Yuen Long.

I have heard of people, including the elderly and children, lining up for several hours. By having that many people in one space, surely they are more at risk of catching the virus. Moreover, it can be a challenge for some people to stand for such prolonged periods of time, and what about the availability of washroom facilities for those queuing?

Meanwhile, our esteemed chief executive and members of her staff are allowed to have rapid antigen tests at home and not required to queue anywhere.

J. Yuen, Tai Wai

Half measures will not win Omicron fight

During the Middle Ages in Europe, scholars are said to have debated the number of angels that could dance on the head of a pin.

In Hong Kong, government officials now debate how many people sitting at a restaurant table – during lunchtime only, be it two, four or six – can contribute to the spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant of Covid-19. Meanwhile, masked Hongkongers travel to work in jam-packed MTR carriages and buses.

That these measures are introduced in futile pursuit of the eradication of Covid-19 is well known. This has no doubt contributed to the government’s feckless policies and comparatively recent push for comprehensive vaccination. The government is surely aware the declared goal is not achievable, and Covid-19 is something with which we must learn to live.

Halfhearted half measures will win neither public support nor successful outcomes, although vaccination requirements for entry to some public places are a positive step. Clearly, what restrictions our government is able to deliver continue to be insufficient to persuade Beijing to open the border with the mainland.

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In these circumstances, the government should acknowledge Hong Kong’s international role and relax restrictions related to international travel. At minimum, it would send a signal that Hong Kong is open for business and permit frustrated Hongkongers the opportunity to visit family and friends overseas.

David Hall, Mid-Levels

Include sex services under new rules

The Executive Council has increased the number of places included in scheduled premises under Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance. It can go even further, though, as it seeks to strike a balance between infection control and the acceptance of the general public.

The general public might think the government is using strong-arm tactics to restrict their lives. Workers in the scheduled premises might feel they are being punished after being unwillingly dragged into the start of a new wave of the pandemic. They hope to work and earn money instead of receiving government subsidies. Moreover, the government’s resources are limited and will be more so if more businesses are forced to close as the pandemic continues.

Nevertheless, places which provide sex services should be considered as scheduled premises under the expanded ordinance because those premises can be loopholes during an outbreak. In November 2020, a female sex worker was confirmed as being infected with Covid-19 and was found to have served about 90 clients during the virus incubation period.

Many sex workers operate out of old buildings in Tai Wai, Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong. The hygienic conditions of those buildings are not good. Thus, these premises should be listed under the new control measures.

Felix Mak, Kowloon Bay