Coronavirus: who will be Hong Kong’s worst hit in Covid-19 fourth wave? Students, poor, elderly most at risk

Rising infection rates in schools overseas could be a sign of what’s to come for Hong Kong as students return to campuses

Meanwhile, lingering issues in elderly care homes could lead to repeat of third wave mistakes

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Residents of the Tsz Ching Estate wait for Covid-19 testing kits in Tsz Wan Shan amid the city’s third wave of infections. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 8:00am, 6 Oct 2020Updated: 12:21pm, 10 May 2021

Hong Kong’s third wave of Covid-19 infections led to nearly 4,000 people contracting the virus between early July and late last month, 98 of whom died, but the fight is far from over. In the second of a three-part series, the Post identifies high-risk groups as a fourth wave looms, and looks at what the city has learned – and hasn’t – from its past experience in combating the pandemic.

Schools, domestic helpers and subdivided flat tenants are sitting ducks for a possible fourth wave of Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong later this year, health experts have said, while poorly equipped care homes remain an unresolved problem undermining the fight against a looming major outbreak.

Students in the city finally resumed classes at schools late last month as Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the third wave of infections had been largely contained. But experts have already warned that a new wave could be coming, as untraceable local cases linger, social activities increase and travel bubbles are eventually established.

While authorities have pledged to learn from the third wave and to step up anti-epidemic measures, public health experts, in interviews with the Post, have identified potential time bombs that could trigger a resurgence of infections in the next few months.

A resident participates in the citywide Covid-19 mass testing scheme in Wong Tai Sin in September. Photo: Winson Wong

Children as silent carriers?

Fears of a new round of infections have intensified since last month, as schools overseas began struggling with outbreaks on campuses.

SCMP Series

Is Hong Kong facing a Covid-19 fourth wave?

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