Coronavirus: Hong Kong gears up for new Covid battle as health chief warns tighter curbs possible
- Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau says changes to quarantine rules for elderly are justified because of a resurgence of coronavirus infections
- Health authorities confirm 7,835 new coronavirus infections, including 170 imported ones, as well as seven more related deaths
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also announced some immediate tightening measures, including imposing compulsory quarantine on elderly Covid-19 patients at an official facility, and from Sunday extending mandatory rapid antigen tests to groups of more than eight people dining together at restaurants.
“The government is very concerned, not just about the rise in confirmed infections, but especially the pressure on the public healthcare system, including the rise in severe and death cases,” Lo said.
“The epidemic situation is very serious now, and it is not ruled out that infection numbers will soon exceed 10,000 cases per day.”
Lo added that further opening up the city was “not a realistic option at this point” when asked what the latest situation meant for arrivals, who must currently quarantine for three days in a hotel and undergo four days of home medical surveillance.
The health minister said the government hoped to achieve “the best anti-pandemic outcome with the least cost to society,” but warned further rule tightening could be on the cards if the situation worsened, without specifically mentioning the measures.