the entire population of Hong Kong must submit to three mandatory covid-19 testsannounced this Tuesday the head of the executive of this semi-autonomous territory, which suffers from worst coronavirus outbreak since the emergence of pandemic.
Those who do not submit to testing will be held accountable,” Carrie Lam said.
The government official explained that those responsible for China will from now on coordinate the strategy in front of covid-19 from Hong Kong.
One of the most densely populated cities in the world is suffering from a fifth wave of covid-19, the worst since the start of the pandemic, with thousands of infections daily.
The rapidly worsening epidemic has far exceeded the capacity of the Hong Kong government to deal with it. Consequently, the support of the central government has become absolutely indispensable in fighting the coronavirus,” Lam told reporters.
China takes command
He announced that the head of the liaison office with Beijing, Xi Baolong, will take charge of the enclave’s health policy.
According to the new regulations, the 7.4 million inhabitants must undergo three rounds of mandatory tests in March.
These will take place over several days and residents will also have to carry out daily rapid antigen tests in their own homes.
Schools and many shops and facilities, such as gyms, bars and beauty salons, will remain closed until the end of April, while the former will be used during the campaign as covid testing centers.
Flights from nine countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and France, will continue to be prohibited.
Lam also confirmed that Hong Kong will apply the measure of isolating all those who test positive for coronavirus – including asymptomatic ones – in special quarantine centers erected with the help of the Chinese authorities.
jrr