More freedom, fewer curbs, but not so fast: Hong Kong medical experts say greater relaxation of Covid measures possible given pace of infections

Vote of confidence from Professor Ivan Hung, co-convenor of a government panel on vaccine effects, but other experts caution against opening up too quickly

Number of infections in city continue to fall, with 429 cases reported on Sunday

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Crowds in Causeway Bay. Hong Kong is opening up after weathering its worst wave of Covid-19 infections. Photo: Jelly Tse

Published: 2:29pm, 24 Apr 2022Updated: 9:24pm, 24 Apr 2022

Hong Kong can afford to further relax social-distancing measures if infection numbers continue to fall over the next two to three weeks, experts have said, even as they differ on the pace of easing with several urging caution.

Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai, a top infectious disease expert, said the easing of Covid-19 curbs should come in two or three weeks, predicting that daily caseloads will fall below 100 by then.

His optimistic note on Sunday, however, was met with caution by two counterparts who had reservations that opening up too soon could lead to a rebound in cases.

Hung was the first official adviser to publicly urge the government to hasten efforts in ending social-distancing curbs, following a significant move by officials last week to lift an arrival ban on foreigners. He said the decision would pose minimal risks to the financial hub.

“By our calculation, cases are dropping by around 50 per day, and it could hit below 100 in two or three weeks, which would be the right time to speed up rule relaxations,” the co-convenor of a government panel on vaccine effects told a television programme.

One rule that could be eased, Hung said, was on wearing masks in public. Natural immunity from past infections among the population, coupled with high vaccination coverage, meant chances of a rebound from opening up would be low, he added.