Covid-19 Cases Soaring to New Heights in HK

Long lines to get tested for Covid-19 and labs are overwhelmed

Another day, another record number of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong, today 2,071, and there are already 4,500 preliminary positive cases.

Health authorities reiterated again how the city's hospitals were at 90 percent, and they wanted to keep the remainder to disinfect for the next patients, and for non-Covid-19 patients in serious condition.

2,071 cases today, possibly 4,500 tomorrow

Testing capacity is completely overwhelmed, though a large-scale temporary laboratory set up in the Ma On Shan sports centre run by Chinese-owned Sunrise Diagnostics will start helping out from tomorrow so that the city can conduct up to 300,000 tests per day.

There were more outbreaks in care homes for the elderly and disabled in Sham Shui Po, Tuen Mun, Prince Edward, Tokwawan, and Sha Tin.

Two more elderly people died from the virus.

And yet another 40 medical staff have contracted Covid-19, making it a total so far of 280 doctors, nurses, patient care assistants and administrative workers.

So where does this leave us?

Many infections found in elderly care homes

Students will not be going back to the classroom until at least March 6, while children as young as three are highly suggested to get vaccinated -- with Sinovac.

The Hospital Authority is finally -- finally! setting up a hotline for people who have tested positive for the virus who are still waiting to be admitted to healthcare facilities, and that designated clinics would be setup for them. This is apparently supposed to happen very soon...

There are estimates of some 10,000 people waiting to go into hospital, while 3,600 are currently in hospitals. And then there are over 4,700 who are close contacts who are in quarantine. 

We are currently in a big mess, and yet there is no definitive plan or strategy to get Hong Kong out of it.

We wait word from Lam tomorrow on the crisis

Or maybe we're supposed to wait until tomorrow for the weekly media briefing by Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor? Time is of the essence, but maybe she'd rather make us wait.

Community Activists Rounded Up

Benny Tai arrested, but also lesser known activists were too

Two of the 53 people who were arrested on Wednesday were community activists, and supporters say in no way were the two interested in subverting the Hong Kong government.

Jeffrey Andrews advocated for ethnic minorities

The first is Jeffrey Andrews, a 34-year-old Indian who was born and raised in Hong Kong, fluent in Cantonese and English. He is vice-chair of NGO Hong Kong Unison that works with ethnic minority groups.

For the past decade he has helped refugees and ethnic minorities -- and ironically in 2016 Andrews was commended by the secretary for home affairs for his contribution to racial harmony and integration.

"His participation in the primaries is reflective of his commitment to Hong Kong and to serving Hong Kong people. It was not an act of subversion, but an aspiration to fight for the rights of ethnic minorities," said Phyllis Cheung Fung-mei, executive director of Hong Kong Unison.

"We are concerned about the use of the national security law as a front to target the core values and democratic expressions and aspirations of people based simply on their political orientation. The arrests attempt to trample on Hongkongers' fundamental human rights provided under the Basic Law."

Lee Yin-man was severely disabled in a wheelchair

The other grassroots activist is Lee Chi-yung, 40, spokesman for the Association of Parents of the Severely Mentally Handicapped.

Over two years ago, Lee's severely disabled daughter, who used a wheelchair, passed away. He has been campaigning for improved wheelchair access and transport facilities for the disabled. 

Andrews and Lee just wanted to improve the lives of people, and decided to run in the July primaries and then the other day they were arrested for breaching the national security law.

Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, a community organizer with the Society for Community Organization, an NGO that advocates for the rights of underprivileged citizens, said police and government officials should give a detailed account of the legal justifications behind the arrests.

Lee Chi-yung wanted more access for wheelchairs

"Andrews has never voiced out any political demand, nor has he been involved in any political parties, Tsoi said. "Before taking any action, the police should have thought carefully about whether the arrested persons had intended to breach the law, or threaten national security."

We are all waiting for answers.

Picture of the Day: Church for the Disabled

Located along a busy road in Kowloon is this church... for the disabled...

Yesterday I went to Homantin in Kowloon for an appointment and got there by taxi because it's not near the MTR station. Afterwards I walked along Princess Margaret Road and came across this Catholic church.

It's not just a church -- it's one for the disabled. But how is it accessible when it is located along a thoroughfare with no parking nearby and the only way to get there is by taxi or bus?

However more importantly, if God is inclusive, why a church specifically for the disabled? How are their services different from able-bodied parishioners?

I tried to find more information online and the only thing I could find was its address and times of services.

This place just brings up more questions than answers...