The entire population of Hong Kong must submit to three mandatory Covid-19 testsannounced this Tuesday the head of the executive of this semi-autonomous territory, that suffers the worst outbreak of coronavirus since the emergence of pandemic.
“Those who do not submit to the tests will be held responsible,” said Carrie Lam, explaining that those responsible for mainland China will now coordinate the strategy against Covid-19 From Hong Kong.
One of the most densely populated cities in the world suffers from a fifth wave of Covid-19the worst since the beginning of the pandemic, with thousands of daily infections.
“The rapidly worsening epidemic has far exceeded the ability of the Hong Kong government to deal with it. Consequently, the central government’s support has become absolutely indispensable in fighting the coronavirus,” Lam told reporters, adding that the head of the liaison office with Beijing, Xi Baolong, will take charge of the enclave’s health policy.
According to the new regulations, 7.4 million inhabitants They will have to undergo three rounds of mandatory testing in March.
These will take place over several days and residents will also have to carry out daily rapid antigen tests in their own homes.
Schools and many shops and facilities, such as gyms, bars and beauty salons, will remain closed until the end of April, while the former will be used during the campaign as Covid-19 tests.
Flights from nine countries, including Britain, the United States and France, will continue to be banned.
Lam also confirmed that Hong Kong will apply the measure of isolating all those who test positive for coronavirus –including asymptomatic ones– in special quarantine centers set up with the help of the Chinese authorities.
