https://www.scmp.com/rss/329389/feed Gigi Choy joined the Post as a reporter in 2019. She covered health in Hong Kong, as well as the city’s housing, land and development policies. Gigi graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a degree in political economy. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Zoe But said it was the luckiest day in her life when she and her fiancé were chosen in the ballot to buy a subsidised home 25 years ago. “We were really lucky. Without the flat, we would have had no way of having a home of our own to start a family,” said But, now 59. “Although paying up the mortgage was hard – you couldn’t travel as much as you like or eat whatever you wanted – it was worth it.” She was among 89,476 applicants who bid for 10,502 flats under the Home Ownership Scheme in October... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3183285/can-hong-kongs-next-leader-john-lee-fix-citys-housing-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3183285/can-hong-kongs-next-leader-john-lee-fix-citys-housing-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Jun 2022 00:53:50 +0000 Hong Kong should only resume tracing the source of infection of every Covid-19 patient when daily caseloads fall to low double digits, a government pandemic adviser has said, while another expert expects it to be a prerequisite for the city to resume quarantine-free travel with mainland China. During previous coronavirus outbreaks, local authorities carried out extensive contact tracing to curb transmission chains and quarantine any potential patients. However, such measures were halted as the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3175991/hong-kong-pandemic-expert-says-covid-19-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3175991/hong-kong-pandemic-expert-says-covid-19-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Apr 2022 08:31:54 +0000 Elderly travellers should be allowed to isolate at home if certain conditions are met, a leading health expert has said, after 87-year-old veteran Hong Kong actor Kenneth Tsang Kong died while undergoing quarantine at a Kowloon hotel. Tsang’s family declined to say whether he was given timely medical help at the hotel, with the actor’s daughter Musette Tsang adding the focus was on making funeral arrangements. “There were not many things the hotel could do … there could be a lot of emergencies... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3175806/hong-kong-urged-allow-elderly-travellers-quarantine-home?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3175806/hong-kong-urged-allow-elderly-travellers-quarantine-home?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Apr 2022 05:50:58 +0000 Veteran Hong Kong actor Kenneth Tsang Kong was found dead on Wednesday while undergoing quarantine alone in a Tsim Sha Tsui hotel room after flying in from Singapore. Sources confirmed the identity of the celebrated actor, a stalwart of the local entertainment scene for decades. He was 87. The actor, whose original name is Tsang Koon-yet, was undergoing quarantine in the Kowloon Hotel on Nathan Road after returning to the city from Singapore on Monday. He had tested negative for Covid-19, had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3175679/hong-kong-actor-kenneth-tsang-dies-tsim-sha-tsui-quarantine-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3175679/hong-kong-actor-kenneth-tsang-dies-tsim-sha-tsui-quarantine-hotel?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Apr 2022 08:31:58 +0000 Five kindergartens run by Hong Kong’s biggest international school group will resume face-to-face classes from Wednesday, six days ahead of schedule, after education authorities amended their previous decision amid complaints of unfair treatment. The announcement on Tuesday by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) came after parents of pupils at the five kindergartens complained that their children would be forced to wait until May to resume in-person classes. “ESF has been liaising closely with... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3175569/hong-kong-kindergartens-run-esf-resume-face-face-classes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3175569/hong-kong-kindergartens-run-esf-resume-face-face-classes?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Apr 2022 10:02:23 +0000 Less than one-tenth of private family doctors in Hong Kong have obtained oral Covid-19 pills from the government, officials have revealed, with the overall number of patients prescribed the medications by such practitioners in the single-digits. The data was publicly revealed on Saturday, a day after Dr Owen Tsang Tak-yin, chairman of the Hospital Authority’s infectious disease task force, said private medical clinics had reported only prescribing molnupiravir and Paxlovid to a small number of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3175289/hong-kong-health-authorities-report-few-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3175289/hong-kong-health-authorities-report-few-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Apr 2022 10:06:32 +0000 Hong Kong will allow foreigners to fly into the city starting next month, the government has announced, ending an entry ban that has kept most visitors away for more than two years and offering a potential lifeline to businesses long battered by the Covid-19 pandemic. The city will also relax the threshold for suspending incoming flights carrying infected passengers from May 1, officials said on Friday, confirming an earlier Post report. The existing three-person threshold will be raised to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3175098/coronavirus-hong-kong-government-set-scale-back-flight?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3175098/coronavirus-hong-kong-government-set-scale-back-flight?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Apr 2022 23:00:21 +0000 Residents who have recovered from Covid-19 can download a new QR code that will be viewed as equal to one jab under the vaccine pass scheme to enter premises in Hong Kong such as restaurants, bars and gyms. Here is what you need to know about the new system. 1. How do I get my recovery record QR code? The QR code, available at www.evt.gov.hk, is valid for six months from the date of the resident’s recovery. After that, residents will need to get the doses required under the vaccine pass... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174914/recovered-covid-19-how-get-electronic-proof-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174914/recovered-covid-19-how-get-electronic-proof-and?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Apr 2022 06:00:26 +0000 Residents who have recovered from Covid-19 can download electronic proof of their health status from a government website and use the information to enter premises in Hong Kong covered by the vaccine pass starting from Tuesday, officials have revealed. The launch of the record came as health authorities reported 600 coronavirus infections, the fifth straight day where cases were below the 1,000 mark, and 17 deaths related to the virus. Fourteen students and a teacher were among the newly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174740/coronavirus-home-vaccination-bookings-open-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174740/coronavirus-home-vaccination-bookings-open-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 19 Apr 2022 05:07:24 +0000 Hong Kong confirmed 747 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, the second day in a row infections were below the 800 mark, while authorities reported the fewest Covid-linked deaths in nearly two months. The daily caseload dropped below 800 for the first time in more than two months on Saturday. Among the latest cases, 11 were imported while the rest were locally transmitted. Health authorities also reported 29 Covid-19-linked deaths, including five backlogged cases. The total marked the lowest number... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174572/coronavirus-hong-kong-confirms-747-new-covid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174572/coronavirus-hong-kong-confirms-747-new-covid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Apr 2022 08:50:01 +0000 A Hong Kong hiker died on Friday after falling into the sea near Shek O, and was believed to have been taking photos when the accident happened, according to police. The force received multiple reports at around 3.30pm about a man who had fallen into the sea at Cape D’Aguilar Marine Reserve, on Hong Kong Island’s southeastern tip. The 32-year-old man was rescued more than 10 metres away from where he fell. He was unconscious and sent to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital in Chai Wan for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3174456/hong-kong-hiker-dies-after-wave-sweeps-him-sea-while?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3174456/hong-kong-hiker-dies-after-wave-sweeps-him-sea-while?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Apr 2022 13:25:36 +0000 Hong Kong has turned the corner in its battle against a crippling fifth wave of Covid-19, with its daily infection total falling below 1,000 for the first time in more than two months and the city’s leader deciding to stop holding the regular pandemic briefings that she began at the height of the health crisis. Health authorities confirmed 946 new infections on Friday, 11 of which were imported and the rest locally transmitted. The total marked the first time it dipped below four digits since... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174363/coronavirus-applications-open-tuesday-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3174363/coronavirus-applications-open-tuesday-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 Apr 2022 03:58:57 +0000 Hong Kong police issued almost HK$90 million (US$11.5 million) in fines to more than 21,600 people for breaching Covid-19 rules in the first 11 months of the last financial year, lawmakers were told on Monday. The city has implemented tough social-distancing rules in a bid to contain the Covid-19 pandemic, including the closure of specified premises such as bars, gyms and beauty parlours, requiring masks to be worn in indoor and outdoor public areas, capping the size of group gatherings and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3174061/hong-kong-police-issue-almost-hk90-million-fines-over?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3174061/hong-kong-police-issue-almost-hk90-million-fines-over?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Apr 2022 16:17:42 +0000 The government will announce further details this week on easing social-distancing rules, Hong Kong’s leader has revealed, as the daily number of Covid-19 cases fell to a nearly two-month low. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Sunday said authorities would soon provide more information on relaxing the restrictions, as well as the arrangements for resuming in-person classes, including whether students would need to undergo daily rapid antigen tests (RAT). “The weather is good during... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173736/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-reveal-plans-ease?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173736/hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-reveal-plans-ease?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 10 Apr 2022 04:40:19 +0000 Hongkongers aged 60 and up could start immediately receiving fourth doses of Covid-19 vaccines, a senior official said, as the city on Friday began a three-day voluntary mass screening exercise using rapid antigen test kits. Civil service minister Patrick Nip Tak-kuen, who oversees the city’s Covid-19 vaccination campaign, said that elderly residents who had received their third dose at least three months ago could start walking into community vaccination centres and inoculation stations at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173531/coronavirus-hong-kong-seniors-can-start-getting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173531/coronavirus-hong-kong-seniors-can-start-getting?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Apr 2022 04:33:16 +0000 Hong Kong’s leader has announced the government will spend an additional HK$12 billion (US$1.5 billion) on a heavily revised wage subsidy scheme aimed at helping pandemic-battered employers cover more workers’ salaries from May to July. At her regular Covid-19 press briefing, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said on Thursday her administration would ask the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee to approve a total of HK$43 billion in funding for the relaunched Employment Support... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3173384/coronavirus-hong-kong-government-spend-additional?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3173384/coronavirus-hong-kong-government-spend-additional?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Apr 2022 06:02:59 +0000 Hong Kong is launching a three-day voluntary mass Covid-19 testing exercise from Friday to better assess the pandemic situation in the city. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the voluntary at-home rapid antigen test (RAT) scheme would provide a snapshot of how many Hongkongers were infected, while also identifying asymptomatic cases and cutting off transmission chains. The Post unpacks what you need to know about the mass testing scheme. When should I test myself and how do I... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173283/hong-kong-calling-3-day-voluntary-mass-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173283/hong-kong-calling-3-day-voluntary-mass-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Apr 2022 02:30:21 +0000 Hong Kong residents who test positive during a mass voluntary Covid-19 screening exercise this week can isolate themselves at home rather than in a government facility, provided their living spaces are suitable, health officials have said. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also said rapid antigen tests (RAT) might be a prerequisite for some premises and activities in the future when social-distancing measures were relaxed, and the mass screening exercise would help residents learn how... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173211/coronavirus-hong-kong-residents-who-test-positive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3173211/coronavirus-hong-kong-residents-who-test-positive?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Apr 2022 04:19:51 +0000 Hong Kong’s leader has said society must “spread more positive news” to preserve the public’s confidence and mental wellness, after a university study found that the city’s suicide index had reached a “crisis level” during the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak. At her regular epidemic press conference on Wednesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was asked to comment on a recent report from the University of Hong Kong (HKU), which warned that if a previously logged suicide rate continued, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172404/coronavirus-hong-kong-confirms-6981-new?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172404/coronavirus-hong-kong-confirms-6981-new?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Mar 2022 08:44:27 +0000 Stringent anti-pandemic restrictions have contributed to the exit of business talent, Hong Kong’s leader has conceded, a day after she was grilled by diplomats and industry representatives expressing frustration over the curbs. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor also suggested, for the first time, that it was “hard to tell” whether resuming quarantine-free travel with mainland China should be prioritised over opening up to the rest of the world, as both were equally important. “We hope... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172348/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-concedes-anti?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172348/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-concedes-anti?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Mar 2022 03:59:26 +0000 Hong Kong will double the maximum fine for breaching quarantine and isolation orders to HK$10,000 (US$1,280) from Thursday, the government has announced, as health experts warned of a rebound in Covid-19 cases ahead of the holidays next month with data showing an uptrend in transmission. The city confirmed 7,596 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, the fourth consecutive day the daily caseload was below the 10,000 mark. In a late-night statement on Tuesday, the government announced nine... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172262/coronavirus-hong-kong-confirms-7596-cases-and-151?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172262/coronavirus-hong-kong-confirms-7596-cases-and-151?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Mar 2022 08:47:15 +0000 Hong Kong’s actual Covid-19 death rate among confirmed cases could be lower than the official record suggested, the city’s leader said on Monday, as she conceded that about a quarter of the population might already have contracted the virus. The city recorded 7,685 new coronavirus infections on Monday, the third day in a row the number was below the 10,000 mark. Another 168 deaths were reported, including 25 that occurred earlier but were only just recorded due to backlogs. The continued fall in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172100/coronavirus-hong-kong-actual-mortality-rate-could?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172100/coronavirus-hong-kong-actual-mortality-rate-could?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Mar 2022 05:18:50 +0000 Hong Kong’s leader has fuelled talk she may not be seeking re-election after saying it will be up to the next administration to conduct a full investigation into the city’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, and also offering herself as an adviser. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor’s latest remarks on Sunday on the probe also suggested it could be an investigation formally set up as a commission of inquiry vested with judicial powers. Lam, whose five-year term will expire on June 30,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172016/coronavirus-hong-kong-inoculate-elderly-found?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3172016/coronavirus-hong-kong-inoculate-elderly-found?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 27 Mar 2022 04:39:21 +0000 A concern group has accused frontline Hong Kong officials of misunderstanding a new tenancy control law covering subdivided flats, and of failing to intervene in cases of rule breaches affecting some of the city’s most vulnerable residents. The Alliance Monitoring the Government’s Implementation of Tenancy Control on Subdivided Units said the new law was not properly protecting residents due to a lack of enforcement by the Rating and Valuation Department. The law, which came into effect on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3171395/hong-kong-concern-group-accuses-officials-failing-enforce?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3171395/hong-kong-concern-group-accuses-officials-failing-enforce?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Mar 2022 08:23:29 +0000 China’s top Covid-19 strategy official has cautioned that Hong Kong’s decision to suspend plans for mass testing should not be taken to mean the city can “lie flat”, even as it starts easing some of the toughest anti-pandemic restrictions in the world with daily infection numbers no longer at record highs. Schools are set to reopen from next month as part of a phased relaxation of social-distancing measures, but the Post has learned that a 90 per cent vaccination rate for students will be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3171363/coronavirus-hong-kong-government-adds-18?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3171363/coronavirus-hong-kong-government-adds-18?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Mar 2022 05:16:15 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. The Hong Kong government has announced a significant easing of tough pandemic-control measures from next month. The measures, covering three areas, will relax travel restrictions for Hong Kong residents returning from overseas from April 1, allow schools to resume in-person classes from April 19, and ease social-distancing curbs at restaurants and other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3171317/hong-kong-revamping-its-travel-and-social?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3171317/hong-kong-revamping-its-travel-and-social?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Mar 2022 03:00:28 +0000 This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. Key points Flight bans on nine countries to be lifted on April 1 Hotel quarantine for fully vaccinated residents returning from overseas will be cut from 14 to seven days from April 1, on the condition travellers test negative on the fifth day via a PCR test, and via rapid antigen tests on the sixth and seventh day of their stay Social-distancing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3171213/coronavirus-hong-kong-lift-flight-bans-nine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3171213/coronavirus-hong-kong-lift-flight-bans-nine?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Mar 2022 02:46:53 +0000 Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is expected to reveal the outcome of an interim review on social-distancing rules and border control measures on Monday as Covid-19 cases continue to decline, with the latest figure the lowest in nearly a month. A source familiar with the assessment said a controversial mass testing drive could be launched when caseloads dipped further, but a citywide lockdown would not be imposed during the exercise and asymptomatic patients could be allowed to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3171151/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-reveal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3171151/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-reveal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Mar 2022 04:55:46 +0000 Hong Kong may ease some of its tough pandemic restrictions that include flight bans, class suspensions and lengthy quarantine for travellers a month earlier than planned, with the city’s leader conceding that public tolerance is reaching its limit. Many of the measures up for review were scheduled to remain in place until April 20, but changes could be revealed as early as Sunday. The government is also expected to announce whether a controversial mass testing scheme for Covid-19 will proceed,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170774/coronavirus-hong-kong-carrie-lam-pledges-adjust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170774/coronavirus-hong-kong-carrie-lam-pledges-adjust?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:25:26 +0000 Private hospitals in Hong Kong have pledged to reserve a total of 1,000 beds mostly for non-Covid patients to help ease the pressure on the public health care system, while a new platform has been launched to provide support to infected patients at home or in community isolation facilities. The city confirmed 27,765 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday. A total of 15,809 cases were logged through the online government portal by residents using at-home rapid antigen tests, in addition to 11,956... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170535/hong-kong-reports-27765-covid-19-cases-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170535/hong-kong-reports-27765-covid-19-cases-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Mar 2022 08:55:55 +0000 Hong Kong will close public beaches from Thursday in a further tightening of social-distancing rules as the city continues to record tens of thousands of daily Covid-19 infections, which now total 3.6 million according to a new university study. A source familiar with government policy told the Post on Tuesday that Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor could announce the beach closures as soon as Wednesday, after stating earlier that current rules banning public gatherings were already... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170502/coronavirus-mainland-chinese-health-professionals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170502/coronavirus-mainland-chinese-health-professionals?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Mar 2022 05:57:59 +0000 Hong Kong health experts warned they did not expect Covid-19 infections to decline any time soon, predicting the daily caseload would need at least another month to drop as authorities confirmed more than 26,900 new infections on Monday. A total of 14,868 cases were logged through a new online government portal by residents using at-home rapid antigen tests, in addition to 12,040 confirmed through polymerase chain reaction screenings, bringing the daily total to 26,908. Hong Kong’s overall... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170363/coronavirus-hong-kong-case-numbers-wont-be-coming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170363/coronavirus-hong-kong-case-numbers-wont-be-coming?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Mar 2022 05:07:35 +0000 The first batch of medical professionals sent from mainland China arrived in Hong Kong on Monday to help battle a surging wave of Covid-19 infections, as the city’s single-day death toll set a record. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor pointed to the vaccination campaign that lagged for much of the past year as contributing to the death rate, which is the highest in the developed world, while a top official at the Hospital Authority (HA) said the focus now was on treating patients. A... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170352/coronavirus-hong-kong-75-medical-workers-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170352/coronavirus-hong-kong-75-medical-workers-mainland?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 14 Mar 2022 04:00:38 +0000 Funeral homes are fully booked until mid-April amid Hong Kong’s rising Covid-19 death toll, with the suspension of simple farewell ceremonies at hospitals and the long processing time of death documents worsening the bottleneck, according to operators. The Hospital Authority, meanwhile, confirmed on Friday that online pictures showing a number of bagged bodies being placed next to patients in wards were taken earlier. It apologised for the stress caused to the patients and said the problem had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170200/coronavirus-hong-kong-funeral-homes-fully-booked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170200/coronavirus-hong-kong-funeral-homes-fully-booked?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Mar 2022 14:39:42 +0000 Hong Kong’s health minister said on Friday that authorities had stopped distributing electronic tracking wristbands to Covid-19 patients under home isolation because of the sheer number of infections, with the city confirming more than 29,000 new cases. For the first time, health officials also said there were enough supplies of oral pills for elderly Covid-19 patients, who face a higher risk of infection and death. Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee told lawmakers on Friday that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170138/hong-kong-records-more-29000-coronavirus-cases?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3170138/hong-kong-records-more-29000-coronavirus-cases?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:06:13 +0000 Hong Kong health authorities on Thursday revealed that daily Covid-19 caseloads peaked earlier this month, but urged the public to remain vigilant as the city confirmed more than 31,000 new infections. While health officials hailed the “positive” development and noted people’s efforts in battling the virus, deaths continued to rise, mostly among unvaccinated elderly residents, with the latest fatalities from Covid-19 complications pushing the overall toll past 3,000. But occupancy at the city’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169956/coronavirus-hong-kong-reports-31402-new-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169956/coronavirus-hong-kong-reports-31402-new-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Mar 2022 08:49:24 +0000 Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor offered an update on new community isolation facilities being built for Covid-19 patients and explained a recent decision to issue a mass emergency alert at her second-ever daily epidemic press conference on Thursday. Development minister Michael Wong Wai-lun and security minister Chris Tang Ping-keung also attended to discuss matters relating to the construction and management of the isolation facilities. The government on Wednesday evening... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169910/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-give?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169910/coronavirus-hong-kong-leader-carrie-lam-give?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Mar 2022 02:57:18 +0000 Hong Kong confirmed more than 58,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, including 32,766 residents who logged their infections through a new online portal after using rapid antigen tests (RAT). They were added to the 25,991 infections discovered through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, of which seven were imported, for an overall tally of 58,757 cases on Wednesday. The city’s overall tally of cases stood at 586,017. Dr Albert Au Ka-wing of the Centre for Health Protection said the daily... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169823/hong-kong-reports-58757-new-coronavirus-cases-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169823/hong-kong-reports-58757-new-coronavirus-cases-and?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Mar 2022 08:55:39 +0000 Hong Kong could postpone its Covid-19 mass testing to next month to focus instead on reducing severe coronavirus infections and deaths among the elderly, the Post has learned, as epidemiologists estimated the fifth wave peaked late last week. As part of the shift in emphasis, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor would likely give an update on Wednesday on how hospital resources in public and private sectors would be allocated for epidemic control, a source familiar with the matter... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169656/coronavirus-hong-kong-top-mainland-chinese-expert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169656/coronavirus-hong-kong-top-mainland-chinese-expert?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:47:36 +0000 Thousands of people logged in within minutes to a new platform for Hong Kong Covid-19 patients to submit positive rapid antigen test (RAT) results when it launched on Monday, as the city confirmed 25,150 new coronavirus infections. The platform, delayed since last week, went live at 6pm via the website “www.chp.gov.hk/ratp”, with the queue number at nearly 10,000 just three minutes later and hitting more than 100,000 in under an hour. However, by 11pm the queue had cleared and access to the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169517/coronavirus-hong-kong-new-isolation-facility?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169517/coronavirus-hong-kong-new-isolation-facility?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Mar 2022 05:23:22 +0000 A mainland Chinese state leader has taken Hong Kong’s private hospitals to task for their reluctance to admit Covid-19 patients, stressing health care workers should save all lives instead of choosing who they treat. Vice-Premier Han Zheng criticised the private hospitals during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday with Hong Kong delegates to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the nation’s top advisory body. According to CPPCC deputy Thomas Pang Cheung-wai, Han, the state... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169465/coronavirus-chinese-state-leader-slams-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169465/coronavirus-chinese-state-leader-slams-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 13:00:01 +0000 Hong Kong should abandon the concept of herd immunity and focus on getting the public vaccinated as soon as possible, a leading health expert has said a day after the city reached its official target of a 90 per cent first-dose inoculation rate. “Don’t get so excited about reaching ‘herd immunity’, you can still get infected even if you have recovered or have received a second or third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine,” said Professor Lau Yu-lung, who chairs the government’s Scientific Committee on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169434/hong-kong-health-expert-warns-against-high-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169434/hong-kong-health-expert-warns-against-high-hopes?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 07:22:11 +0000 A mainland Chinese state leader has pledged that Beijing will firmly support Hong Kong’s fight against its spiralling coronavirus epidemic by ensuring a steady supply of necessities, while calling on private hospitals to do more and for authorities to prioritise care for the elderly. Vice-Premier Han Zheng, the state leader who oversees the city’s affairs, made the remarks during a meeting on Sunday with Hong Kong politicians attending the annual session of the country’s top advisory body, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3169429/whatever-hong-kong-needs-beijing-provides-chinese-vice?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3169429/whatever-hong-kong-needs-beijing-provides-chinese-vice?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Mar 2022 05:42:06 +0000 Hong Kong has cut the recommended interval between the first and second dose of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for care home residents from four weeks to three, as the city battles a worsening coronavirus crisis with more than 52,500 new cases confirmed on Friday. Officials recorded another 52,523 new coronavirus infections, 11 of which were imported, pushing the overall tally to 403,080 cases. Dr Albert Au Ka-wing, a principal medical and health officer at the Centre for Health Protection,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169204/coronavirus-hong-kong-recovered-elderly-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169204/coronavirus-hong-kong-recovered-elderly-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Mar 2022 04:30:13 +0000 Hong Kong will open up to 500 Covid-19 testing centres for its universal testing drive and families will be able to book slots together, even as the timing and details of a lockdown to enable such an exercise have yet to be fixed, the Post has learned. Sources indicated discussions were still ongoing on how to impose a lockdown and the most appropriate time for it – whether to do so soon or after the fifth wave of infections had peaked – with a visiting mainland expert hinting a consensus had... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169054/coronavirus-hong-kong-500-sample-collection?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3169054/coronavirus-hong-kong-500-sample-collection?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:19:03 +0000 Hong Kong’s biggest international school group will continue with tutorials and self-study online in March and April, despite the government bringing the summer holidays forward to free up campuses to conduct citywide Covid-19 screening. The announcement by the English Schools Foundation (ESF) came after local and international school heads met Education Bureau officials on Wednesday to express concerns over the new timetable, and urged authorities to allow them to conduct online classes during... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3168473/hong-kongs-largest-international-school-group-opts-online?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3168473/hong-kongs-largest-international-school-group-opts-online?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Feb 2022 15:19:38 +0000 A record high of nearly 22,000 Covid-19 infections reported in a single day has forced Hong Kong’s government to drastically change its testing strategy and start relying on self-test kit results to clear the daily backlog of positive samples awaiting confirmation by health authorities. The new testing strategy announced on Friday night means that people who return positive results in rapid tests will be treated as confirmed cases immediately when they register the information with the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3168372/coronavirus-hong-kong-only-third-infections?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3168372/coronavirus-hong-kong-only-third-infections?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 25 Feb 2022 06:50:09 +0000 A top epidemiologist has urged Hong Kong to lift flight bans and allow residents to return to the city since the risk of local Covid-19 transmission now exceeds that posed by imported cases, as officials reported record numbers for the daily caseload and coronavirus-related deaths. Professor Gabriel Leung, dean of the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) faculty of medicine, on Thursday also said the city should ramp up vaccinations among children before classes resumed in April to prevent yet... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3168223/coronavirus-hong-kong-should-lift-flight-bans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3168223/coronavirus-hong-kong-should-lift-flight-bans?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:22:54 +0000 Hong Kong confirmed an all-time daily record of 8,674 new Covid-19 infections on Wednesday, as officials revealed that the latest data showed an 18-fold difference in the death rates between the vaccinated and those who had not received jabs. As the numbers continued to climb, the government tightened social-distancing rules yet again. A rule exempting country park users and those doing outdoor physical activities from wearing masks will be removed from Thursday, the same day a vaccine pass... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3168040/coronavirus-hong-kong-universal-testing-could?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3168040/coronavirus-hong-kong-universal-testing-could?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 23 Feb 2022 03:14:51 +0000 An 11-month old girl has died after contracting the coronavirus, becoming Hong Kong’s youngest pandemic-related victim and the third such death of young ­children in the past fortnight. Health authorities said the baby, who had “good past health”, was in a stable condition until 4am on Saturday, when she developed a fever and started to suffer from convulsions. She was brought to the accident and emergency department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital, intubated and then transferred to the intensive care... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3167874/coroner-investigate-death-11-month-old-girl-hong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3167874/coroner-investigate-death-11-month-old-girl-hong?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Feb 2022 14:10:07 +0000