Coronavirus: Hong Kong residents given respite from lockdowns over Lunar New Year holiday but urged to remain vigilant

If people do not continue to practise social distancing, city could end up back at ‘square one’ after the festivities, government adviser cautions

Authorities confirm 26 new cases, while ordering new lockdown and evacuation of a rehabilitation centre

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Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam met reporters on Tuesday ahead of her weekly Executive Council meeting. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Tony Cheung,Jeffie Lam,Zoe Low,Gigi ChoyandKathleen Magramo

Published: 10:38am, 9 Feb 2021Updated: 12:19am, 10 Feb 2021

Hong Kong’s leader has said the government will suspend its controversial “ambush-style” lockdown operations over the Lunar New Year holiday, even as a government adviser urged the public to remain vigilant or risk going “back to square one” after the festivities.

Speaking ahead of her Executive Council meeting, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Tuesday the “very staff intensive” operations involving more than 10,000 workers would temporarily stop as the pandemic had started to ease, with the number of new infections – including untraceable ones – decreasing.

The city confirmed 26 new infections, which is roughly in line with the average recorded over the past week, although the number was the lowest since Saturday when 19 cases were reported.

Health authorities have carried out 26 lockdowns, with the latest one beginning at 7pm on Tuesday at Kiu Yu Mansion and Kiu Fat Mansion on Lok Shan Road in To Kwa Wan.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung earlier said the government would intensify the “compulsory testing operations” in specified restricted areas until Wednesday, the day before Lunar New Year’s Eve.