About 9,400 Hong Kong government employees have been infected with Covid-19 since the fifth wave of infections hit the city in late December, while more than 10,000 officers from the disciplined services have been told to isolate themselves. Among government agencies providing essential public services, the Immigration Department was hardest hit with more than a fifth, or about 2,000, of its officers infected or having to isolate. It was followed by the Fire Services Department with 20 per cent, or about 2,290 staff, affected and the Government Flying Service also with 20 per cent, or around 70 employees. According to the government, the infected workers were from 72 bureaus and departments and fell ill between early January and March 2. The Civil Service Bureau said the employees had either resumed work or would return to their jobs after recovering and completing their period of isolation. A bureau spokesman said the government was focused on stabilising the fifth wave of the pandemic and would mobilise all available manpower and resources. Hong Kong logs 37,529 Covid cases; ‘15 per cent of residents may be infected’ “All government departments will continue to provide emergency services and essential public services to release manpower to focus on keeping anti-epidemic work in full swing,” the spokesman said. As of last September, the civil service had about 176,406 employees, excluding judges, judicial officers, employees of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and overseas staff of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices. The police force reported that 10 per cent, or about 3,800, of its staff were currently under isolation. A source said the force had suspended some training to free officers to fill vacant frontline positions. Back office staff, including officers handling complaints against the force, had also been relocated to units or districts affected by reduced manpower. “To protect the health of officers and the public, the police force will provide officers with adequate protective equipment based on its risk assessment and arrange daily testing for officers,” a spokesman said. “Whenever an officer tests positive, police will actively cooperate with the Department of Health in terms of follow-up and investigation, and will thoroughly cleanse and disinfect the officer’s workplace and provide anti-epidemic support to the officer and his family.” At the Fire Services Department, the fifth wave of infections resulted in 12 per cent of its manpower testing positive and 8 per cent being identified as close contacts as of Thursday. To keep its ambulance service running, it redeployed some staff, such as those from the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy, firefighters with first responder qualifications, and retired paramedics. Hong Kong recorded 37,529 Covid-19 infections on Saturday, bringing the total tally to 440,609 cases. The city’s death toll stood at 1,774. What you need to know about dealing with Covid-19 at home The government on Thursday said that except for those unfit to be vaccinated, all employees entering its premises must receive their second dose before April 1 and their booster shot before May 16, or within eight months of their second dose. Hong Kong is sticking with its “dynamic zero-Covid” strategy, implementing stringent contact-tracing work, and social-distancing and isolation measures, which demand a huge amount of manpower. The government also said staff of 39 departments from eight bureaus were involved in ramped-up testing operations at public buildings and other areas. About 1,000 staff of the Home Affairs Department were moved to run the 24-hour “Stay Home Safe” hotline for people under isolation, and disciplined service officers were helping to manage additional isolation and treatment facilities. Staff from the commerce and economic development, constitutional and mainland affairs and civil service bureaus were working on medical supplies, mass testing for the city’s entire population and vaccine centres respectively. The Post reported previously that a new anti-epidemic task force had been set up under the Security Bureau to supervise isolation facilities in preparation for the mass testing, which could start on March 26 for nine days, along with some form of lockdown. Thousands of civil servants, including those from the leisure and cultural services, lands, labour and inland revenue departments, would also help out for three months, sources said.