The Hong Kong federal government is on the defensive about its extensive quarantine exemptions which have now been determined as driving substantially of the recent outbreak. A lot more than 1,400 men and women have been identified with Covid-19 this thirty day period – more than fifty percent of Hong Kong’s total infections in the coronavirus pandemic. Professional medical and testing devices in the metropolis are overwhelmed.
Hong Kong has experienced demanding entry bars on non-residents and necessary quarantine for some others coming into the metropolis. Even so tens of 1000’s of persons regarded as to be carrying out crucial operate have been exempt – together with about 10,000 cross-border truck motorists, as well as crew customers of sea and air vessels.
In a assertion released on Sunday the government defended the decision, indicating the exemptions were “essential to be certain an uninterrupted offer of goods and day by day requirements to retain the economy”.
“Though exempted from mandatory 14-working day quarantine, exempted folks are issued with medical surveillance notices by the Section of Health and are asked to comply with precautionary and personal hygiene measures including the carrying of masks.”
It mentioned the exemption preparations experienced “worked effectively in the past handful of months”, but in recognition of the latest rise in situations among the air and sea crew staff, some steps have been suspended or tightened.
Taking result on Wednesday, the new steps include things like requiring all cargo ship crew customers to keep on board although the ship is in Hong Kong waters. Incoming flight crews must have a negative Covid-19 exam from inside 48 prior to their arrival. Airways will have to also organize point to point non-public transport for crew touring amongst the airport and their lodging, and ensure that the crew self-isolate.
On Sunday Hong Kong described yet another 128 instances, the fifth straight day of final results in the triple figures.
On Saturday Hong Kong confirmed a history 133 scenarios of Covid-19 ended up underneath investigation, all but seven of them domestically transmitted.
It involved one pupil residing in a University of Hong Kong hall of residence. 1 roommate had returned a preliminary constructive test consequence, and a different with signs or symptoms was waiting for a final result.
“For the College of Hong Kong residential corridor, simply because they are residing on the similar ground, they share loos and bathrooms, there are all around 10 to 20 pupils there, so we system to place them beneath quarantine,” head of the centre for well being safety, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said.
