Beijing Takes Over Anti-Epidemic Work in HK

Does Lam regret how she has handled the pandemic now?

Things don't look good when you have over 4,200 infections reported today, over 7,000 preliminary, but more importantly, when Party Secretary General Xi Jinping is personally concerned and tells Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor she has to work harder to contain the virus and maintain social stability.

Word came down that Xi asked Vice-Premier Han Zheng, the top state leader overseeing the city's affairs, to relay to Lam the president's "concern about the pandemic situation in the city and his care for Hong Kong residents".

Xi has personally voiced concerns over HK

Beijing will now have more oversight over anti-epidemic measures, creating another layer of bureaucracy, basically another layer of bosses to placate. The group will be made up of the State Council's Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, as well as the National Health Commission, and will involve Beijing authorities and experts, as well as the Guangdong and local governments.

Xi stressed that Hong Kong "must earnestly take the main responsibility, and to make it the overriding priority to stabilise and control the epidemic as soon as possible".

"Authorities must mobilise all forces and resources that can be mobilised, take all necessary measures and protect Hong Kong people's lives and health, as well as ensure Hong Kong's social stability," Xi was quoted as saying.

"The relevant central and local authorities must fully support and assist the Hong Kong government in doing its anti-epidemic work well."

Lam responded with "heartfelt gratitude" to Xi, and admitted the local healthcare system was overloaded. 

A record 4,285 cases, 7,000 preliminary

Han told Lam that she should implement Xi's instructions, which include boosting testing capacity, procuring rapid test kits, and other medical equipment, supporting the construction of isolation and medical facilities, ensuring the supply of necessities, such as fresh food, and sending coronavirus experts to Hong Kong to help.

We already have a lot of very good infectious disease experts... they just can't agree with each other, while Lam does not rein them in or at least make sure they are all on the same page.

Nevertheless, many of them have already suggested a citywide lockdown to clamp down on the virus mainland-style, and yet Lam refuses to do this.

But with Beijing now getting involved, it may get to this point.

Does Lam now see that her chances of running for chief executive again are becoming slimmer and slimmer by the hour?

There were 4,285 infections today, and sadly nine deaths, including the three-year-old girl who passed yesterday. 

These elderly patients outside must be freezing

This evening after dinner I walked along the harbourfront and it was quite windy. As long as I kept moving I was warm, but what about those elderly patients lying on gurneys outside hospitals waiting to get in? They must be freezing to death. Won't be surprised if there are cases of pneumonia tomorrow.

Meanwhile this afternoon one infectious disease expert, Professor Ben Cowling of the University of Hong Kong was interviewed by the Asia Society. 

A few points he made include: He projects the fifth wave will peak in about three weeks from now, when over half of the population will be infected with the virus. This will unfortunately mean seeing more fatalities, and so Cowling urged people, including children who haven't gotten vaccinated to do so.

In the first wave children did not seem to be affected by Covid-19, but they are now getting sick with Omicron, and so he highly urges them to get the jab. Cowling again pushed for seniors to get vaccinated, precious time was lost last year when elderly people did not get vaccinated, and hinted the government did not do enough to push up the inoculation rates in this age group. 

He does not see the point in having a vaccine mandate now because the rising numbers of cases may have prodded people to get jabbed now.

Cowling says fifth wave may peak in three weeks

Another suggestion Cowling made was for rapid antigen tests be made widely available. He is currently stuck in the UK and everyone can get lots of these RAT tests delivered to their homes. People can take these tests and if they are positive to isolate immediately or for everyone else in the household to get tested to prevent further spread in the community. 

Children in the UK take these tests every morning before going to school so that they can attend classes; Cowling says there is a risk they could become positive later in the day, but for the most part it allows education to continue and believes this is a good thing.

This evening there are reports that all Hong Kong residents will be tested maybe in early March three times. How this will be implemented has yet to be revealed, or revealed at all. It could be sprung on us one day.

Regardless it shows the local government has been completely swept aside, unclear of what needs to be done, let alone execute properly. This is what happens when there is no effective opposition, no grassroots activists, and media to point out what should be done. 

Lam and her administration have wasted lots of time, wasted lots of money -- the December 19 free rides day for starters -- and not listened to experts and figured out how to protect Hongkongers in the best way possible.

For the rest of us, it is only a matter of time before we get infected one way or another. This government has failed us. We are on our own.

Youngest and Oldest Hongkongers Die from Covid

Thousands waiting, is this the most efficient way to fight Covid?

It was tragic to find out a three-year-old girl who was in critical condition with Covid-19 and no underlying health issues has passed away, the youngest victim of the virus so far, while a 100-year-old chronically ill woman also died, being the oldest fatality in Hong Kong.

And yet Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today: "It is not an option to surrender to the virus", despite the healthcare system being completely overwhelmed. 

Even her deputy, Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu now needs to be isolated after his domestic helper was found to be infected with the virus, while pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee's chauffeur tested positive too.

Lee is isolating after his helper tested positive

Despite Lam's insistence on achieving "dynamic zero infection", she has not shown any indication of earnestly trying to fight the fifth wave as quickly and effectively as possible.

During the media briefing this morning she suggested that 3,000 flats from three public housing estates could be used as well as 10,000 hotel rooms to isolate people who have tested positive for the virus. Lam did not invoke emergency powers to demand the hotels give up the rooms as soon as possible, but instead has chosen to approach "industry leaders" to expedite the process.

After over two years, how many hotels are going to be willing to be turned into isolation facilities? Who among the staff -- who have no medical training -- would be willing to service these people knowing there would be a high risk of getting infected as seen from quarantine hotels?

And then Lam has suggested that 400 taxis be chosen specifically to ferry infected people to designated medical clinics that will process Covid-19 patients. Again, who is willing to drive these people around, knowing they have tested positive for the virus?

Some 400 taxis will ferry patients to clinics

This plan does not seem feasible, thanks to the government being caught seriously flat-footed knowing Omicron is an easily transmissible virus and seeing how it has affected people overseas -- just looking at Singapore -- and anticipating the worst-case scenarios and preparing for them.

In addition there are another 30 nurses and doctors in 28 hospitals and eight clinics and care homes that have also come down with Covid. Does Lam think that healthcare professionals are limitless? Many already migrated in the past year so there was already a serious shortage.

If that wasn't all, there were pictures circulating on social media of to 60 patients in gurneys outside the Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po around 2pm, and at Pok Oi Hospital in Yuen Long, about 40 patients treated outside on gurneys or in tents while others sat on chairs. They were given foil blankets if they complained about the cold.

How is this even acceptable in Hong Kong?

Patients in Sham Shui Po treated outside hospital

The best thing people can do to protect themselves and their loved ones other than wearing masks is to get vaccinated. The government is too overwhelmed to help anyone, so it up to all of us to look after ourselves and getting inoculated is the fastest (and cheapest) way to do that.

In the meantime spare a thought for the three-year-old girl's family. We have all been through so much, and yet we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet...

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.

HK Govt Still Running Behind Omicron

Many elderly mistrust the govt, feel left behind in pandemic

It is very interesting to read some comments from Hong Kong seniors about why they refuse to get vaccinated.

After reading them, I don't blame them.

Sit Pui-yu, 72, knows that without getting the jab, he won't be able to eat in a restaurant, or shop for food, and blames the authorities for it.

There aren't many people who can help seniors

"The government has never truly taken consideration of the elderly in every single measure and policy it has carried out since the start of the pandemic, said the single elderly man who lives by himself in a public housing flat in Wong Tai Sin.

Another case in point -- being forced to use a smartphone that was donated to him and having to learn how to use it for the LeaveHomeSafe app for contact-tracing purposes. If you are unvaccinated then you are barred from entering many venues from February 24.

"I have lost trust in the government, so I have no confidence in its vaccination program," he said.

What is tragic is that he has no one to complain to anymore about it -- almost all the district councillors and opposition lawmakers and activists have resigned, fled the city, or jailed, so there is no communication channel between the grassroots and the government.

And then there are family doctors who are too scared to recommend that their elderly patients get vaccinated in case they suffer side effects, which doesn't help the situation at all, as well as adult children who are terrified something will happen to their parents if they get a jab.

Lee (right) says resources are stretched to limit

Today the number of cases recorded was 1,347, with only two imported. 

Another child, a three-year-old girl who tested preliminary positive is in critical condition but health officials did not have more information to disclose to the media. When reporters asked how many children were seriously ill in hospital, again there was no answer to the question. These children are too young to be vaccinated at the moment. 

Dr Larry Lee Lap-yip, a chief manager at the Hospital Authority said the healthcare system was strained to the limit.

"The number of confirmed and preliminary-positive Covid-19 cases has seriously exceeded the capacity that we can tolerate at hospitals," he said. "Our current isolation facilities are also full."

He said isolation beds would be prioritised to children, the elderly, and patients in serious condition. 

"If the situation worsens, we will not rule out suspending services in some public hospitals to turn them into Covid-specific treatment facilities," Lee said. "Facing the current crisis, we hope everyone will work together for the public good and save critical hospital resources for patients who need it the most."

Shouldn't that have been the case all along?

Chan says HK needs to run as fast as Omicron

Up until now, if anybody tested positive and was asymptomatic, was immediately sent to hospital. Now the health authorities realise this is not completely necessary and more importantly they are running out of beds and resources, as a number of nurses and doctors have also contracted Covid-19.

It is seriously shocking how behind the ball this government is in dealing with this wave, when the authorities claimed they were preparing for the possibility of the fifth wave.

In an interview with China Daily that was published five days ago, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said the government was preparing for the fifth wave "because from overseas experience, we know Omicron, this mutant strain, has a very high transmissibility. So we know it will come. Now we are in a very severe situation, and we are really trying our best to fight the virus, through timely measures. So, time is of the essence, because we have to be running as fast as the Omicron."

How about running faster than Omicron? That might be a start...