Coronavirus: Hong Kong can consider easing social curbs but all arrivals should be tested twice, health experts say

Leading medical figures begin to see light at end of tunnel after city records zero infections for third day in past week

With threat now mainly returning residents, authorities should focus on identifying asymptomatic carriers who enter quarantine undetected, they say

3-MIN READ3-MIN

People wear masks as they visit Cheung Chau in Hong Kong at the weekend. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 8:00am, 27 Apr 2020Updated: 3:34pm, 27 Apr 2020

Hong Kong can consider easing social-distancing measures enacted to limit the spread of Covid-19 but should begin testing all arrivals twice – once after entering Hong Kong and again at the end of their mandatory two weeks’ self-isolation, health experts say.

Double-checking would help catch any infected people who were asymptomatic and before they began moving around the city, they said.

The call came as Hong Kong recorded its third day of zero new coronavirus cases this past week, leaving the tally at 1,037, with four related deaths.

Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee repeated the government’s warning that despite the encouraging dip, it was essential the city remained aggressive in its fight against the pandemic.

“Even though there are signs that the outbreak in Hong Kong has eased, the global situation is still severe and unstable,” Chan wrote on her blog on Sunday. “I hope society will not lower its guard or else the results from our measures will be for nothing.”

Pressure has been mounting on the Hong Kong government to relax coronavirus travel restrictions between the city and mainland China, with some politicians calling for an exemption for business travellers.