Hong Kong is struggling with the worst outbreak of the virus so far

For a long time, Hong Kong was one of the places in the world that performed best in the epidemic outbreak. But the omicron outbreak finally put hospitals in a state of emergency. Pictures and videos show patients lying in beds covered with blankets outside hospitals due to space constraints. Temporary tents are erected to provide protection when it rains. Hospital staff get on their knees and stand in long lines to test themselves.

Last week, a record number of people tested positive in Hong Kong, and while the rest of the world has decided to live with the virus, restrictions have now been tightened. For Hong Kong, there is no real choice. The political leadership there should follow mainland China and from there the message is that eliminate strategy related. This week, Chinese leader Xi Jinping called on Hong Kong’s political leadership to mobilize all resources to control the virus. Xi Jinping has declared via state media that anti-virus should be a top priority.

The outbreak comes at a time when the Olympics are being held in Beijing, and China wants to show the world that zero tolerance for the virus is effective. Everyone who made it to the games suffered from the harsh policies of daily testing and isolation for those who tested positive. Policy has kept infections in China low and there are no signs it is about to change, despite the rest of the world releasing restrictions.

In China, infection keep going down Through mass testing, closure The infection is tracked as soon as a single case is detected in the area. It is not that easy for Hong Kong. There are still some freedoms that do not exist in mainland China and the city has so far opposed a total lockdown. However, strict restrictions exist. Schools, gyms, churches and bars are closed. Restaurants have to close at 6 p.m., a lot of the house is working and a maximum of two people can meet.

In addition, China’s political leadership has now stepped in and will ensure that more testing can be done and more places can be created for those who have been infected or have been in contact with infected people and need to self-isolate. In addition, Hong Kong political leader Carrie Lam announced that she had received a promise from hotels to provide 10,000 rooms for those infected with the disease. According to media reports on Thursday, 7.5 million people in Hong Kong will be tested as of March. Those who refuse should be fined 10,000 Hong Kong dollars, about 12,000 kroner.

For that financial hub in Hong Kong, the restrictions are a severe blow. Its borders were somewhat closed two years ago. One of the world’s most international cities has become one of the world’s most isolated, and some companies have moved their employees to another temporary location.

So far no one has been able to post the perfect solution Reduction in the spread of infection. On Thursday, 6,116 new cases of Covid-19 and 24 deaths were reported, a record number. But in total, the number of infected, 35,000, and dead, 250, is low compared to most other cities of the same size. But medical experts warn that the number of cases may rise to 28,000 per day by the end of March.

Of particular concern is the relatively low proportion of older adults who have been vaccinated. Only 56 percent of the population over the age of 70 is vaccinated. Among those over the age of 11, 84 percent received at least one injection.