- Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that due to the decrease in new Covid-19 infections, the government would suspend the operations
- She urged people to avoid family gatherings and spend the holiday ‘calmly’
Hongkongers crowd the flower market in Prince Edward on Sunday ahead of Chinese New Year. Photo: SCMP/ Felix WongChief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has announced the government will suspend its controversial “ambush style” lockdowns for Chinese New Year because the coronavirus situation had begun to ease, with the number of new infections – and those with untraceable sources – decreasing in the past week.
Health authorities had so far conducted 25 lockdown operations in the city, mobilising more than 10,000 government employees for the task, she noted.
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Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the government would intensify “compulsory testing operations” in specified restricted areas until Wednesday, the day before Chinese New Year’s Eve.
Lam on Tuesday said the lockdown operations had been “done as expeditiously as possible to reduce disruption for the residents concerned”.
“It has proven to be effective … but having regard for the importance Hong Kong people attach to Chinese New Year, we will conduct this operation until [tomorrow],” she added.
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But the chief executive also said she hoped people would spend the holiday relatively “calmly”, despite the recent easing of the heath crisis.
“I hope people will continue to avoid going out or taking part in family gatherings. They should remain vigilant about personal hygiene, and I hope that after Chinese New Year, we can gradually return to our normal lives,” she said.
Lam added the government will discuss the possibility of gradually resuming classes in schools after the holiday, and also consider allowing the reopening of some businesses that have been closed for lengthy periods under social-distancing regulations.