Is Hong Kong Beating Omicron?

Can Hong Kong celebrate Chinese New Year February 1?

One government advisor on the pandemic seems to think Hong Kong could possibly be out of the Omicron wave within two weeks or just after Chinese New Year, if the number of cases remain stable and all of them are traceable.

Yuen of HKU says cases are stable and traceable

Dr Yuen Kwok-yung made this pronouncement today as Hongkongers wonder if they will be able to celebrate the start of the Year of the Tiger with family on February 1.

"If we could identify all the transmission chains and the number of local cases remains stable, this wave of the coronavirus could end before or after Chinese New Year," he told a radio program.

However, his colleague Dr Leung Chi-chiu disagrees.

"It's still too early to say that the epidemic is under control at this stage, [and saying so] will even mislead the public."

Could they please decide amongst themselves what stance they are going to take before announcing it to the public? It's too confusing and disheartening to hear two completely different opinions...

Meanwhile, the government may announce tomorrow if the restrictions will continue or will be even harsher. So far bars, pubs and 14 other types of businesses were forced to close for two weeks, while restaurants can stay open until 6pm, though they can operate as a takeaway business in the evenings.

Hong Kong's airport looks like this these days

In addition to cut down on the number of imported cases, the government has barred air passengers from 150 countries -- 150 -- from coming into Hong Kong, even to transit into the city between January 16 and February 15.

The restrictions means practically every major country is on that list, further isolating Hong Kong, and making it even more trying for people wanting to come in to see loved ones or sort out personal matters.

And people outside of Hong Kong wonder why I haven't traveled in over two years...

Interesting to see Moon Palace, the restaurant in Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong has reopened two weeks after it was the hotbed of Omicron infections. Around 10 diners and their close contacts caught the virus, while 200 other customers and 20 staff were sent to quarantine.

Moon Palace has reopened, but few diners today

As expected not many people ventured into the restaurant to dine in, even though it had been thoroughly disinfected.