bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Kathleen Magramo

Natalie Wong

Key points
• HK$8.4 billion set aside to procure enough vaccine shots for two times the population
• Regular testing for high-risk groups with daily capacity increased to tens of thousands
• Quarantine facilities with at least 4,000 units to be ready by the end of this year, including at Penny’s Bay, Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village and hotels
• Temporary hospital next to AsiaWorld-Expo to be completed in four months
• To step up enforcement of social distancing at restaurants and pubs, police and hygiene officers to join forces this weekend
• Digital platform created to consolidate data and speed up contact tracing among government departments
Hong Kong aims to procure enough coronavirus vaccine shots to cover at least twice the population as part of the government’s strategy for defending the city against a feared worst-yet wave of the coronavirus this winter.
Under the fight against a potential fourth wave of infections, a new round of targeted Covid-19 testing was launched on Friday with the screening of care home staff, while police would this weekend join environmental hygiene officers to enforce social-distancing curbs at restaurants and pubs.
Hong Kong to launch second round of Covid-19 testing for high-risk workers
Health minister Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee warned the next rush of coronavirus cases in the city could be even worse than the existing one, Hong Kong’s deadliest amid the health crisis so far.
The city recorded three new infections on Friday and the death of an 81-year-old male resident of Fung Shing Nursing Home in Kwai Chung. The sources of the two local infections were traceable while the third case was imported. The tally now stood at 4,996 cases with 103 related deaths.


“The number of third wave infections is declining very slowly, with the fourth wave possibly coming in winter, which could be even more severe than the third,” Chan said.
“The measures will not eradicate the virus without the vaccine but will avoid major outbreaks in the community.”
She stressed that to stop the risk of imported cases the city could not relax cross-border controls, given the global Covid-19 outlook remained severe.
The health authorities had already planned to procure shots from different vaccine manufacturers for at least double the city’s 7.5 million population in case one of the candidates failed. The government had set aside HK$8.4 billion (US$1.07 billion) for procurement.
“Not all vaccines will materialise and be available, but if they all do, Hong Kong will have two times the vaccines we need,” a government source said. “The failure rate of vaccines being developed is very high.”
Hong Kong has joined the Covax Facility led by Gavi, a global Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and the World Health Organisation, which would cover vaccine shots for 35 per cent of the city’s population.
The Covax Facility would cost HK$461.5 million and the advanced purchase agreements from other commercial vaccine makers were estimated to be HK$5 billion, while implementation costs would reach HK$2.9 billion.
The government also announced regular voluntary Covid-19 testing for high-risk workers.
Those working at slaughterhouses, container terminals and other crucial infrastructure facilities would be entitled to the test.

Also included in the scheme were taxi drivers and workers at care homes, restaurants and wet markets, as the Post reported earlier.
From Friday, the Social Welfare Department would start testing staff from centres looking after the elderly and disabled, as well as hospices.
About 5,000 tests could be carried out each day for the high-risk groups. The overall daily testing capacity of the city had already increased to at least 10,000.
Chan said: “If community outbreaks emerge, our measures will allow us to conduct target-oriented testings and identify asymptomatic patients more swiftly.”
A digital platform to consolidate data from various government departments has been created to speed up contact tracing.
The construction of a makeshift hospital spanning 3.2 hectares next to AsiaWorld-Expo, an exhibition centre near the airport, was expected to be completed within four months, providing 800 negative pressure beds.
“We need to have these facilities ready so we can use them swiftly if a big outbreak occurs again,” Hospital Authority chief executive Dr Tony Ho Pat-sing said.
By the end of the year, health authorities also aimed to boost quarantine and isolation facilities to 4,000 units, including 2,000 at Phase Three and Four of Penny’s Bay and others at Lei Yue Mun Holiday Village, and through renting hotels.




Dr Leung Chi-chiu, a respiratory medicine specialist, said the new measures were a step in the right direction but stressed that preventing a fourth wave of infections would depend on how early health authorities could intervene to cut the transmission chain.
Leung said targeted testing among high-risk groups was not a guarantee that silent transmission could be eliminated altogether as the virus could still spread via importation or in new clusters.
“The key determinant if we have another outbreak … is if we can intervene early and scale down the outbreak by applying social-distancing measures and speed up contact tracing we will be able to contain it within a shorter period of time,” he said.
Leung also suggested using test kits that could show results within 24 hours to detect asymptomatic cases as soon as possible and to minimise the time cost for workers in high-risk occupations.
The relaxation of social-distancing restrictions continued on Friday with Ocean Park and swimming pools reopening at half capacity and pubs operating with a maximum of two customers per table until midnight, even as untraceable cases still accounted for nearly one-fifth of recent infections.
A total of 66 people in charge of eateries were prosecuted for violating social-distancing rules when the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department conducted checks at more than 6,100 restaurants between September 11 and 16.
Liberal Party lawmaker Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, who represents the catering sector, said testing would always help, especially as workers in his industry were on the front line meeting a lot of people every day.


Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s fourth wave ‘could be the worst yet’ as city aims for enough Covid-19 vaccine shots to cover double city’s population

The Hong Kong government has set aside HK$8.4 billion for procuring vaccines. Photo: Reuters

A long queue of taxis sit in line as they wait for customers, Tsim Sha Tsui. More Covid-19 cases are confirmed in the city amid the 'third wave' of coronavirus infections. 14JUL20 SCMP/ Felix Wong

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Society

Government reserves HK$8.4 billion for vaccine procurement as it unveils strategy for warding off potential fourth wave of coronavirus
Ministers fear next rush of Covid-19 cases could be the worst the city has ever seen


Government reserves HK$8.4 billion for vaccine procurement as it unveils strategy for warding off potential fourth wave of coronavirus.


Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s fourth wave ‘could be the worst yet’ as city aims for enough Covid-19 vaccine shots to cover double city’s population

Government reserves HK$8.4 billion for vaccine procurement as it unveils strategy for warding off potential fourth wave of coronavirus Ministers fear next rush of Covid-19 cases could be the worst the city has ever seen

Government reserves HK$8.4 billion for vaccine procurement as it unveils strategy for warding off potential fourth wave of coronavirus

Ministers fear next rush of Covid-19 cases could be the worst the city has ever seen