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HONG KONG, China (AFP) — Hong Kong’s coronavirus case numbers are displaying indicators of rebounding, metropolis chief government Carrie Lam mentioned on Friday, days after reintroducing extra restrictions forward of the twenty fifth anniversary of the town’s switch to Chinese language rule.
The finance hub this week noticed day by day circumstances go above 1,000 for the primary time in two months — although hospitalisations have remained comparatively low, with solely 25 folks in critical or essential situation as of Friday, based on well being officers.
Latest outbreaks have forged a shadow over Hong Kong’s plans to mark the handover on July 1, and it stays unclear if Chinese language President Xi Jinping will attend the celebrations in individual.
Lam mentioned social distancing guidelines wouldn’t be tightened once more regardless of the rebound in numbers, saying the figures had been “not an alarm bell but”.
“I’ve to emphasize that this kind of upward circumstances, based on the consultants, are usually not surprising, as a result of now we have nearly returned to normalcy so far as social actions are involved,” she mentioned.
On Tuesday, nonetheless, the federal government introduced in new restrictions associated to bars and golf equipment. Patrons now must current proof of a unfavourable speedy Covid-19 take a look at taken within the final 24 hours.
There have been questions over enforcement, with Bloomberg Information reporting some folks have been capable of dodge the rule and that bar operators have cited difficulties in verifying photographs of take a look at outcomes.
The brand new measure appeared to be a response to latest case clusters that had been traced to bars and golf equipment, however there was little proof to point out the transfer might gradual outbreaks, College of Hong Kong microbiology professor Siddharth Sridhar instructed Bloomberg.
On Tuesday, officers additionally mentioned that if folks take a look at constructive, house quarantine will solely be an choice if they’ve not less than two loos of their residence, to keep away from the wholesome and the contaminated sharing amenities.
Hong Kong is known for its cramped dwelling quarters, with greater than 220,000 of its 7.4 million residents dwelling in subdivided housing.
Lam on Friday prolonged an association for Hong Kong lecturers and college students to take Covid-19 speedy exams day by day, and demanded extra testing for employees at care houses for the aged.
Hong Kong has loved a lull in circumstances for round two months, after a lethal Omicron wave earlier this yr killed greater than 9,000, principally under-vaccinated aged folks in care houses.
Public well being consultants say Hong Kong’s subsequent coronavirus wave could also be much less lethal as a result of many residents acquired immunity by pure an infection, and vaccination charges have improved.
Town has adopted China’s zero-Covid technique, through which virus outbreaks have been quashed with mass testing, social distancing and stringent border controls.
© Agence France-Presse
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