Unprecedented Lockdown in Yau Tsim Mong

Police cordon off the area in a Yau Tsim Mong street tonight

 

An unprecedented lockdown has just begun at midnight in 150 buildings in Yau Tsim Mong district (Yau Ma Tei, Tsim Sha Tsui and Mongkok) because of the unprecedented number of coronavirus cases. However there is a lot of confusion of what is exactly meant by this lockdown and how long it will last.

District councillor Andy Yu said in this evening's press conference that the residents in the affected buildings are uninformed as to what will happen -- have their moments been severely curtailed or can they still venture out for food and medical appointments?

150 buildings will be under lockdown in this area

"Most of them would like to know more about what's happening and they still need to deal with the changes. Maybe some people... they have to go to work tomorrow, or they have to go to the hospital... so many different kinds [of complaints] that we have received, said Frank Ho, another councillor, who reports those who have contacted him are scared.

So far there has been no word at all from the government for clarification of what the lockdown will entail. As a result, many have gone out today to stock up on supplies, while others even fled the district.

Media reports say only those with negative test results are allowed to leave and come back, but as another district councillor, Suzanne Wu pointed out, someone negative could catch Covid-19 while out, and locking people up in the building when the spread is possibly caused by the environment is not a good idea.

Dr Leung says the lockdown is "too late"

Indeed respiratory disease specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu says a stay-at-home order is "too late" and "rather meaningless" as most residents have already been tested, and suggested instead expanding the scope of testing to nearby buildings to uncover possible clusters.

The Hong Kong Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, an opposition party focused on lower-income groups, blasted the lockdown plan and urged authorities to support residents by inspecting plumbing systems in buildings and updating them if necessary.

"The government seems headstrong in committing to ineffective measures. Its latest proposal to lock down a whole zone will cause the stigmatization of the area and its residents, disrupt residents' daily lives and severely undermine local economic activity," it said.

So basically this lockdown is a mess -- no one has any details of how it is supposed to work,  and there are questions as to how effective it will be.

Many are ethnic minorities in tenement buildings

There will be lots of questions about accountability and transparency this weekend and especially Tuesday morning when Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor holds a press briefing...