No need for lockdown: pandemic restrictions plus resident response helped Hong Kong keep Covid-19 at bay, says HKU study
- Downward trend of cases a good sign, but experts say social distancing must continue
- Public behaviour changed too, with more wearing masks, avoiding crowded places
Hong Kong’s mix of pandemic restrictions were sufficient to help slow the spread of Covid-19 without resorting to a lockdown of the city, a study by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has found.
Hong Kong has seen 1,023 confirmed Covid-19 cases and four deaths since the first infection was reported on January 23. There were only between one and five new cases daily over the past seven consecutive days. Worldwide, there have been more than 2.2 million confirmed infections and over 150,000 deaths.
The HKU researchers found that social distancing and other measures, coupled with the correct response of residents who heeded advice to wear masks and avoid crowded places, helped keep the virus at bay. The findings of their study were published in The Lancet Public Health journal.
“Hong Kong has demonstrated that Covid-19 transmission can be effectively contained without resorting to the highly disruptive complete lockdown adopted by mainland China, the United States, and Western European countries,” said lead researcher Benjamin Cowling, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at HKU’s school of public health.