Is Hong Kong's Fifth Wave Here?

At least 64 new Covid cases are related to Ursus Fitness

No one has declared it yet, but it feels like Hong Kong is on the cusp of its fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

Today the city logged a staggering 60 cases, following an outbreak at a gym in Sai Ying Pun. Ursus Fitness is popular with bankers and lawyers, which resulted in many firms and banks closing their offices because of positive cases, while the trainers there work in different gyms around the city.

Dr Chuang hopes gym outbreak can be controlled

There are 64 cases linked to the gym, while some 360 others are now in quarantine, and 20 preliminary positive cases recorded.

However, health officials are hesitant to call this growing spate of cases Hong Kong's fifth wave.

"I do not wish to see a fifth wave," said Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, of the Centre for Health Protection. "I hope it can be controlled, but it has been spreading very fast. One infection has already led to many others."

Indeed. At least 12 other fitness centres were visited by Covid carriers, including in Taikoo Place and Central.

As a result there are now infections recorded in companies like HSBC, China Construction Bank, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, law firm Allen & Overy, while some Citibank employees who went to the affected gyms were told to work from home. 

In addition, at least 14 schools, including international ones have also been affected by cases or taking precautionary measures, such as British Kellet School, French International School, and South Island School.

Hui says the gym could be super spreader cluster

Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, a respiratory medicine expert at Chinese University, said the gym outbreak was similar to the dance club cluster in mid-November that ballooned to 732 people -- the largest in Hong Kong since the start of the pandemic.

"I worry the big outbreak at the fitness centre will be the prelude to the fifth wave, but the Centre for Health Protection very quickly quarantined close contacts," Hui told a radio program. "Hopefully that will stop the virus from spreading everywhere in the community. We will need to closely monitor the situation."

He was also concerned the gym could be a "super-spreader cluster" and urged an examination of the ventilation system and check how it is cleaned.

Meanwhile the interest in getting a vaccine has dropped after four people died after getting the Sinovac jab. They also had preexisting health issues, which led to many with high blood pressure and/or diabetes to not get the vaccine. 

Many worried about side effects cancelled jabs

A friend asked if I was going to get the vaccine and said she has an expat neighbour who cannot understand why people are not in a hurry to get the jab. He asked if people wanted the pandemic to end or not.

But for many, the lack of trust in the government has meant people are left fending for themselves and want to make the right choice when it comes to vaccines. They also worry about side effects since the vaccines were developed so quickly without enough long-term data.

Nevertheless, health experts have told the public that getting a jab is better than none at all, but many are waiting to see how others react to it.

Another friend got the jab today. He said there was no line at 9am and it was very efficient. 

At least Hong Kong has that right.