Carrot and Stick Approach to Covid-19

Dr Chan announces the loosened measures if cases remain low

 

Late this afternoon there was a big government press conference arranged to announce the latest social-distancing measures.

Diners can eat until 10pm and four to a table

Hard to believe but Secretary for Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee announced that if -- IF the numbers of coronavirus cases continue to be relatively low (17 today), then starting February 18, restaurants will be allowed to have dinner service until 10pm for four people, and venues like cinemas, gyms, museums, massage parlours, theme parks, bowling and billiard centres, ice rinks and game arcades can re-open!

Some places like eateries may need to install extra ventilation in order to operate longer hours.

It's been months since restaurants have been allowed to serve dinner, resulting in them opening all day until 6pm, and offering takeaway as well, doing whatever they can to survive.

Hotels are offering staycations where guests can have dinner served in their rooms, and the takeaway afternoon tea sets are still going strong. Restaurant staff have been working non-stop, and this weekend is even busier with Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day within days of each other.

Venues like gyms can reopen possibly Feb 18

Chan also said the government will also resume all public services on February 18 too, again depending on the pandemic situation.

So that is the carrot.

The stick is that all staff at these above-mentioned venues will have to be tested every two weeks and all patrons must use the LeaveHomeSafe app. If they don't have a smartphone, then their details need to be written down.

The app was introduced in November and hardly anyone used it, because of rumours that it sucked up personal information for the government to collect. But now if they can dine in a restaurant for dinner, will they be willing to use the app?

Some are even thinking of getting an extra smartphone just for this purpose.

In addition Chan said there would be no more lockdowns until after the holidays -- does the virus really take a break during CNY? She reported nearly 25,000 residents in 200 buildings were tested, yielding 20 infections, which is a positive rate of 0.08 percent.

People must use the LeaveHomeSafe app

However, respiratory medicine specialist Dr Leung Chi-chiu expressed reservations about the plans to relax social-distancing rules, arguing the pandemic had not yet eased enough. He warned that with more gatherings and fewer virus tests carried out over the new year holiday, infections could surge again.

"The number of cases recently has been on a horizontal trend," Leung said. "Given that the existing measures have not been able to ensure the number of infections on a continuously downward trend, once the rules are relaxed, a rebound is possible because of higher risks of transmission."

He said having staff tested every two weeks and customers use the LeaveHomeSafe app would "not be very effective" in controlling the spread, given then delay in cutting transmission chains should a person be found to have the virus.

While a restaurateur interviewed said business may jump 30 to 40 percent if dinner is available, he was concerned that customers may refuse to use the app and so they might have to call the police to settle the matter.

Leung questions not testing during CNY

Meanwhile gym rats are probably elated that they can finally work out again, though for me, I'm still very happy to walk outside, though admittedly I have missed swimming a lot.

Nevertheless, I have to agree with Leung in that there could be a surge in infections after Chinese New Year and that we should wait until early March to lift restrictions if the numbers continue to be low.

Lifting restrictions before CNY is over is a bit premature and reckless on the part of the government. While it is a carrot to lure people into becoming responsible in the next few days, opening up next Thursday is not enough time to see if there is an uptick in cases...