Will Omicron Spread in Hong Kong?

Chan (middle) says HK is ready for possible Omicron wave

Hong Kong recorded 14 new imported Omicron cases at the airport, the most in one day, causing health authorities to draw up contingency plans if the new highly contagious variant spreads in the community.

"Globally, the outbreak of Omicron and transmission speed is very fast... the risk to Hong Kong is also very high," said Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee.

Of the new cases, five were from Kazakhstan via South Korea, while the rest were from Germany, Ireland, Ghana, Australia, India and Spain. Hong Kong now has a total of 58 Omicron cases.

North Lantau Hospital has negative-pressure beds

Health Authority chairman Henry Fan Hung-ling, said if a fifth wave happens, the city would have enough public beds ready.

Currently there are 900 negative-pressure beds -- designed to handle patients with infectious diseases -- at the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, and Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung.

Fan added there are also about 1,000 first-tier isolation beds for more serious patients, and 600 second-tier beds for more stable cases at different public hospitals. 

"We now hope for the best, but prepare for the worst," he said.

However, when Chan was asked if Hong Kong would see a fifth wave coming, and how the city was preparing for it, this was her reply:

"First of all, before Christmas, I chaired a meeting together with the Department of Health and Hospital Authority, and of course the Food and Health Bureau, to discuss and prepare for our response plan in case Omicron has an outbreak in Hong Kong. 

More elderly need to be jabbed -- will they?

"We have discussed the prevention and response plan in particular our capacity -- testing capacity, our quarantine facilities, our isolation facilities, as well as what if Omicron really has an outbreak in Hong Kong, whether we need to tighten our social distancing measures, and so on.

"Of course, vaccination is the most important. Taking Covid-19 vaccine is an effective measure to protect ourselves, especially the elderly in Hong Kong who has a relatively low vaccination rate. Vaccination can protect them from Omicron and also from the outbreak. So this is number one."

Errr... did she answer the question?

Chan should be really answering the question to give the public confidence the government is preparing the possibility of Omicron, but also be more serious about getting the elderly vaccinated. The authorities really should be stepping up its efforts instead of just parroting the suggestion over and over again...

Once Omicron is in the community, it will be too late to get vaccinated!