[Explanation] The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government launched the "Universal Community Testing Program" which lasted for two weeks, which officially ended on September 14. A total of more than 1.78 million samples were tested and at least 42 patients with new coronary pneumonia were directly or indirectly identified.
[Explanation] Xu Shuchang, an expert advisor to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s Anti-epidemic Steering Committee and Chair Professor of Respiratory System at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told reporters that the “Universal Community Testing Program” has achieved remarkable results, greatly shortening the duration of the third wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong and making Hong Kong China’s anti-epidemic work has taken a big step forward.
[Concurrent] Xu Shuchang, expert consultant of the Anti-epidemic Steering Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chair Professor of Respiratory System of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
1.78 million people participated in the test is not a small number, but also achieved a certain goal, which is to find out the invisible transmission chain.
Among the 32 newly confirmed cases of pneumonia, at least 20 are of unknown origin, so these are invisible transmission chains.
If this universal community testing program is not implemented, these confirmed cases of pneumonia can cause transmission in the community, which will delay the third wave of the epidemic for a long time.
[Explanation] After the popularization of the community testing program, the number of confirmed cases in a single day in Hong Kong remained in the single digits, and there were zero local infections on September 15.
However, Xu Shuchang believes that the current epidemic is still not completely under control. To stop the epidemic in the third wave, it depends on whether Hong Kong can maintain zero new confirmed cases in the next 14 days.
[Concurrent] Xu Shuchang, expert consultant of the Anti-epidemic Steering Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chair Professor of Respiratory System of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
There are still many confirmed cases of pneumonia in the community that continue to appear. If you look back at the recent confirmed cases of pneumonia, there are three or four cases of unknown origin. Therefore, this universal community testing program is only to cut off a part of the transmission chain, which is not entirely possible. To reduce the number of confirmed diagnoses in the third wave of the epidemic to zero, I believe it may take a while to reach zero.
[Explanation] Winter is approaching, and the government recently announced the relaxation of a number of anti-epidemic measures. Xu Shuchang said that "epidemic prevention measures can be slowed down, and the heart of epidemic prevention cannot be relaxed."
In order to avoid the fourth and fifth wave of epidemics, the government needs to strengthen the control of imported cases and local community epidemic prevention measures, and citizens still need to be cautious when traveling.
[Concurrent] Xu Shuchang, expert consultant of the Anti-epidemic Steering Committee of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chair Professor of Respiratory System of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Generally speaking, when the weather turns cooler, the respiratory virus will become more active.
Let’s take a look at the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus in Australia, especially in Melbourne. Therefore, for Hong Kong, we have to guard against confirmed cases of pneumonia in the country. Since customs clearance is always required, we must be careful.
In addition, we should pay attention to some high-risk groups in Hong Kong. We must regularly test them and try to arrange them to leave (test) samples.
Through these mechanisms, it is hoped that the fourth wave of epidemics will not be caused as much as possible.
Reporter Tong Yuyuan Zhang Hongwei reports from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: 【Luo Pan】