Editorial | Shenzhen provides lesson for Hong Kong in lockdown and mass testing
- Hong Kong’s priorities may now lie in timely treatment of the seriously ill and vaccinating the elderly, but it should also bear in mind the experience of its neighbour
Unlike neighbouring Shenzhen, which has just implemented a lockdown for mass Covid-19 testing overnight, Hong Kong still faces the same prospect with drawn-out trepidation. First it was imminent and now it has been delayed to an unspecified date, if it goes ahead at all.
This is to make way for other priorities such as timely treatment of the seriously ill and vaccination of the elderly.
The clearer focus on priorities is welcome. But the remaining uncertainty about mass testing does nothing for confidence, especially for operators and employees of businesses temporarily shut down under social-distancing measures.
Meanwhile, the Shenzhen lockdown offers a view across the border of what effective mass testing really means.
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Carrie Lam admits ‘not enough’ done to vaccinate elderly Hongkongers from Covid-19
Ironically, the outbreak there, which accounts for most cases in Guangdong, is linked to the devastating fifth wave of the coronavirus in Hong Kong. The technology hub has already locked down border areas near Hong Kong while battling a surge in infections with the Omicron variant of the virus since late last month.
Shenzhen can hope to emerge from the lockdown after three rounds of citywide Covid-19 tests this week.