Editorial | Overdue change in priorities brings Hong Kong hope on coronavirus front
- New focus on reducing infections, serious illness and deaths among the most vulnerable, instead of mass testing, raises the question as to why this was not done sooner
U-turns have apparently become the norm rather than the exception as the raging Covid-19 outbreak forces Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor to tweak her pandemic strategies.
But the focus on reducing infections, serious illness and deaths, along with a new commitment by the city’s leader to give updates on the latest developments via daily press conferences, is a welcome change.
There is a long road ahead, but by resetting priorities and improving communication, the government may, hopefully, turn the tide.
It is good that a more strategic approach is in place, including allocating more hospitals and district centres for Covid treatment, vaccinating more elderly citizens and enhancing protection for care homes.
04:16
Hong Kong converts 3 public hospitals into Covid-only facilities in latest effort to fight 5th wave
The changes follow advice from top mainland expert Liang Wannian and his team. Lam yesterday expressed sadness for those who have died, but stopped short of apologising for the rising toll.
As most who have died were elderly and unvaccinated, the need to adjust priorities appears obvious. It has to be asked why the latest measures were not adopted earlier.