Tougher measures against coronavirus may come this week as Hong Kong fights to contain local clusters and imported cases
- Authorities warn of alarming surge in cases over past week, with total more than doubling to 410, as expert urges city not to be ‘complacent’
- Calls to follow other countries in banning public gatherings, limiting hours of businesses and even shutting down public transport
Hong Kong may roll out even tougher measures as early as this week to deal with an alarming resurgence of coronavirus infections, as the city fights to contain both community clusters and a daily tally of imported cases.
The city confirmed 24 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, mostly people returning from overseas, which took the total to 410, more than doubling the count from a week ago. Four patients have died so far in Hong Kong.
“We believe that a large number of Hong Kong citizens will continue to come back … in the following weeks because of the worsening situation overseas and hence confirmed cases will inevitably continue to increase,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in an article published online by her office on Wednesday night.
“The situation will be more severe and difficult to handle than any period in the past two months, and may even lead to a large-scale and continuous outbreak in the community.”
Lam said the overall situation in Hong Kong from mid-February to mid-March had been stable, but the number of cases jumped worryingly in the past two weeks.
Earlier on Wednesday, government advisers and medical experts suggested that authorities follow other countries in banning public gatherings, controlling businesses, and even to shut down public transport.
They warned the city’s health care system would be brought to its knees if it did not stem the tide of infections.