(Bloomberg) – Hong Kong lawmaker Tian Beichen said a strict nine-day lockdown across the city should be imposed to contain the fast-spreading new crown epidemic, rather than extending social distancing measures that are crippling business activity.
Tian Beichen, who is also a deputy to the National People’s Congress in Hong Kong, told Bloomberg Television on Wednesday that all non-essential activities during the lockdown period will be suspended and three nationwide tests will be conducted.
“Long pain is worse than short pain,” he said. “Now is the time to grit your teeth and push through.”
Tian Beichen said that the blockade should be carried out from March 19 to 28, spanning two weekends, so as to cause as little loss to enterprises as possible, while giving Hong Kong time to build up testing and isolation capabilities. He added that each person should be tested twice during the lockdown and a third after the end.
Tian Beichen said that after the police implemented the blockade, each household could be allowed to go out for an hour or two every day to buy food and necessities, and also called it “crazy” to only enforce testing without restricting people’s travel. Only people in essential service industries such as healthcare and food supply will be allowed to work.
“This is a requirement for everyone in Hong Kong,” Tian Beichen said. “We all have to do our bit.”
Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, has repeatedly denied the possibility of a mainland-style lockdown, saying instead that the city will conduct mass testing and may consider localized “stay-at-home” orders. Carrie Lam revealed details of her plan late Tuesday to test Hong Kong’s 7.4 million residents three times in March and to extend social distancing measures — including restaurant and family gathering restrictions — until at least mid-April.
However, during the talks, Beijing suggested Hong Kong take measures to contain the virus, saying it would be more effective in containing new cases in a shorter period of time, according to people familiar with the matter.
original title
Hong Kong Lawmaker Calls for Short Lockdown to Nail Outbreak (1)
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