Hong Kong leader John Lee vows to bring in new Covid measures, look at options to ease travellers’ inconvenience
- John Lee says government is planning to reduce quarantine period for incoming travellers while at same time controlling risk of potential outbreaks
- Health authorities on Tuesday confirm 2,268 new Covid-19 cases, 183 of which are imported, and no additional deaths
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu on Tuesday said the government was planning to reduce the quarantine period for incoming travellers, while at the same time controlling the risk of potential outbreaks to minimise the number of severe coronavirus cases.
“One of the important measures is to make good use of the polymerase chain reaction [PCR] tests, so that we can be certain that we will be able to identify those who are infected early and separate them so that they will not be spreading the virus to other people,” he said, without elaborating further on what other measures were being considered.
A source familiar with anti-epidemic policies said authorities were considering more precise and targeted measures to combat Covid-19, so as to avoid the need for indiscriminate social-distancing curbs.
The insider said options being considered included more frequent and timely PCR tests for targeted groups, such as inbound travellers and staff at homes for the elderly, exercising more control on entry to places including care homes and hospitals to protect high-risk groups in those facilities, and tightening access to people at risk, such as those under home quarantine or subject to compulsory testing.