Editorial | As fears of worsening outbreak loom, Hong Kong must be ready to act
- Record number of daily infections has fuelled further calls for a lockdown and ban on visitors
- But whether such measures are required depends on the government’s ability to respond to an immediate threat
Hong Kong has entered another critical stage as the compulsory quarantine for all arrivals from overseas came into effect after midnight.
But before the enhanced health control measure was even put to the test, the government was already under pressure to go further, including banning all foreigners from visiting the city.
This is not a to be taken likely, given our international links and open economy. But yesterday’s record number of daily confirmed cases and preliminary positive test results, most of which were imported, is a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted.
The immediate challenge is to first cope with the burden arising from tens of thousands of citizens expected to return in coming days.
This is arguably more challenging than evacuating passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan and Hongkongers stranded in Wuhan, the epicentre of the Covid-19 outbreak.