Editorial | Coronavirus review has to offer suffering Hong Kong hope
- Core features of antivirus strategy, including flight bans, school suspensions, quarantine rules and planned mass testing exercise, will be reconsidered
When the history of Hong Kong’s battle against Covid-19 is written, yesterday’s revelation that the government is to subject its strategy to a “midterm review” might prove to be a pivotal point.
Core features of the city’s policy, including flight bans, school suspensions, quarantine rules and a planned mass testing exercise, are all to be reconsidered.
A change of direction or, at least, a reconfiguration of the strategy, could be on the way. Much will depend on the results of the review, due to be announced on Sunday or Monday.
There is certainly a need for reflection. The daily number of infections and the death rate remain at a very high level, even though the fifth wave of cases is said to have peaked early in the month.
02:47
Hong Kong leader hints of possible easing of Covid-19 restrictions as city records 21,650 new cases
But Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor conceded on Thursday that people’s appetite for tough measures is fading and some financial institutions are losing patience with the city’s isolated status.