Editorial | Rise in Omicron cases shows need for wider vaccination coverage in Hong Kong amid coronavirus pandemic
- With vaccine passes being extended to schools, workplaces and other indoor premises, it is incumbent upon everyone to work towards that 90 per cent jabs target
With much of the world still in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccination is increasingly considered a must rather than an option.
This is especially true in Hong Kong where the hard-earned record of zero infections for seven months has been swiftly undone by a sweeping Omicron outbreak.
The government has rightly seized the chance to push for wider coverage by extending the vaccine pass to schools, workplaces and other indoor locations. Draconian as it seems, it is a necessary step for the city if it is to gradually return to normal.
Against the worrying backdrop of a record 164 daily infections yesterday, the new 90 per cent vaccination target, to be achieved by making the jab a must for those using indoor premises, is a timely reminder that the crisis is far from over.
Indeed, the risk of a wider community outbreak has never been higher. On a brighter note, the 21-day quarantine for inbound travellers will be cut to two weeks, thanks to a shorter incubation period for the Omicron variant.
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Earlier, the 70 per cent inoculation threshold needed for pupils to resume full-day classes irked many parents. Admittedly, such an approach has raised questions regarding the fundamental right to education.