The Hong Kong authorities is on the defensive around its considerable quarantine exemptions which have now been identified as driving substantially of the recent outbreak. Far more than 1,400 men and women have been diagnosed with Covid-19 this thirty day period – far more than 50 percent of Hong Kong’s overall infections in the coronavirus pandemic. Medical and testing techniques in the town are overwhelmed.

Hong Kong has experienced demanding entry bars on non-citizens and necessary quarantine for others coming into the city. Nonetheless tens of 1000’s of men and women viewed as to be carrying out vital perform had been exempt – such as about 10,000 cross-border truck drivers, as properly as crew members of sea and air vessels.

In a statement released on Sunday the govt defended the decision, declaring the exemptions were being “essential to guarantee an uninterrupted provide of merchandise and every day requirements to preserve the economy”.

“Though exempted from obligatory 14-day quarantine, exempted persons are issued with healthcare surveillance notices by the Office of Health and are requested to comply with precautionary and own hygiene steps like the wearing of masks.”

It reported the exemption preparations had “worked properly in the earlier number of months”, but in recognition of the the latest increase in circumstances among air and sea crew personnel, some actions have been suspended or tightened.

Taking impact on Wednesday, the new actions incorporate requiring all cargo ship crew customers to remain on board whilst the ship is in Hong Kong waters. Incoming flight crews should have a adverse Covid-19 test from inside 48 prior to their arrival. Airlines need to also organize place to place personal transportation for crew traveling in between the airport and their accommodation, and make certain that the crew self-isolate.

On Sunday Hong Kong reported yet another 128 circumstances, the fifth straight working day of final results in the triple figures.

On Saturday Hong Kong verified a document 133 conditions of Covid-19 had been underneath investigation, all but 7 of them locally transmitted.

It involved a single student living in a University of Hong Kong hall of home. One roommate had returned a preliminary positive examination outcome, and one more with signs and symptoms was ready for a result.

“For the University of Hong Kong household hall, since they are residing on the very same flooring, they share loos and bathrooms, there are all over 10 to 20 pupils there, so we program to set them under quarantine,” head of the centre for wellbeing defense, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan claimed.