Opinion | Covid-19 has evolved, so why hasn’t Hong Kong’s virus strategy?

The Omicron variant is running rings round Hong Kong’s quarantine system, and the city appears to have run out of ideas. Instead, once again, we are closing schools and hurting businesses and livelihoods

Reading Time:3 minutes

People carry takeaway dinners through a deserted Central district in Hong Kong on January 9, with dining restrictions in place once again. Photo: TNS

Published: 6:45am, 24 Jan 2022

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor should announce as soon as possible that she has no plans for the city to open up to the world, no plans for students of all ages to return to school or playgrounds, and no plans to shorten quarantine arrangements.

Yes, I’m serious, given how recent attempts by the administration to straighten out misinformation have ended with it essentially eating its words.

On January 3, the government condemned those it said were spreading “rumours” that it was planning to stop people dining in restaurants after 6pm and putting the city under lockdown. It clarified that it had “absolutely no plan” to do so.

Two days later, the government announced it was halting dining in restaurants after 6pm after all, and also shutting down 15 types of premises: in other words, businesses and livelihoods across the service sector.

Next, following comments on how school closures would have an adverse impact on children’s physical and emotional well-being, the government made another about-turn and closed primary schools and kindergartens – sending educators and parents straight back to Zoom hell.

From then on, it was really just a matter of time before secondary schools would be closed too, and yet the chief executive still spoke about older students’ ability to take better care of themselves. Well, lo and behold, secondary schools are shut.

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