Editorial | Price to be paid if virus rules ignored
- Latest Covid-19 outbreak and fears Halloween revellers may have shunned social-distancing restrictions further underline the importance of remaining vigilant at all times
Laxity continues to prevail in many parts of the world as a resurgence in Covid-19 infections is threatening to undo months of painful efforts to keep the treacherous virus at bay.
Thankfully, Hong Kong is still far from the lockdowns being imposed across Europe. But the latest outbreak following a series of relaxed restrictions shows vigilance must not be taken for granted.
A feared wider spread in the wake of the Halloween party weekend is hardly scaremongering. As reported by the South China Morning Post, many revellers disregarded social-distancing rules, while others opted for hiking, staycation and other crowd-gathering activities.
It would not be surprising if more cases of unknown origin follow. The earlier Chung Yeung Festival long weekend saw at least three staycation-related cases at the Seaview Holiday Resort in Silvermine Bay. A 15-year-old boy who attended a family gathering with a relative who stayed at the Lantau hotel also came down with the virus. There were also news reports of party rooms for Halloween gatherings flouting health restrictions.
Describing the non-compliance as “very worrying”, the health minister said the government would not rule out tightening restrictions again, and rightly so.