Hong Kong once more registered more than 6,000 new cases this Sunday of coronavirus for the second time in a few days, for which the authorities evaluate tighten even more the strict controls that are in force in the region.
The Secretary of Health, Sophia Chan, did not give details regarding the new restrictions that might be added to the current ones in the Chinese autonomous territory but asked citizens that they stay in their housesreported the BBC news network.
Currently, Hong Kong crosses the worst moment of the pandemic. This Sunday, the health authorities reported 14 deaths and 6,067 new cases of coronavirus, very close to the 6,116 infections last Thursday, their highest daily total since the start of the emergency.
To contain the increase in cases, the country imposed restrictions on travel, business and public activity. On February 10, moreover, the ban on public gatherings of more than two people. It was also ordered closure of restaurants, hairdressers and religious places.
Sanitary situation
Last week, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam — who anticipated that the election for her post would be postponed until May 8 due to “public health risks” — warned that the rapid spread of the Omicron variant was overwhelming hospitals in Hong Kong, which have the 90% of beds occupied.
Due to the collapse in hospitals, some patients had to wait in the open air in the winter cold. Hospital Authority CEO Tony Ko apologized for what happened and the Hong Kong government announced that, to “relieve pressure,” mainland Chinese construction crews they will build isolation units for 10,000 people.
These teams are expected to move forward with great speed, as they have experience in quickly assembling this type of structure: in early 2020, they built two facilities with 1,500 and 1,000 beds in 10 days in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it was recorded the first outbreak of covid-19. They also have the experience of having converted 16 buildings that had another use into isolation hospitals.
In addition to the isolation units to be built by the mainland Chinese teams, the Hong Kong government will also use newly built hotel rooms, sports facilities and public housing units to house patients.
