Coronavirus: Hong Kong to revamp its anti-pandemic strategy in anticipation of winter wave, as testing scheme extended by three days
- Doubling testing capacity, setting aside more manpower for contact tracing and procuring vaccines are among measures on the table
- Authorities extend mass Covid-19 screening programme through Monday as city reports six new cases of Covid-19
Health authorities tackling Hong Kong’s ebbing tide of coronavirus infections have started overhauling their anti-epidemic strategy in preparation for a fourth wave of Covid-19 cases expected to arrive this winter.
The policy review came as the government on Wednesday extended the city’s mass testing scheme by another three days, until Monday, and the Hospital Authority began screening all new inpatients for Covid-19 in a bid to minimise the spread of the virus in public hospitals.
The daily tally of new infections has declined over the past few weeks, and only six new cases were recorded for a second day in a row on Wednesday – the lowest daily figure since July 3. The city’s total number of confirmed cases stands at 4,901, with 99 related deaths.
Confirming an earlier Post report, the government said its mass testing scheme, which was originally expected to end on Friday, would be extended for a second time through Monday.
Of the 122 sample collection points currently operating, 57 were expected to remain open through September 14, while the rest would close after September 11.
“If you look at it from the public health [angle], and also from a controlling the epidemic angle, it’s not just about yourself, it is also about the community,” Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen said.