China News Agency, Hong Kong, March 5th: Interview with Li Jiachao: The next two to three months will be a critical period for Hong Kong to stabilize and control the epidemic
China News Agency reporter Zhang Xiaoxi and Fan Siyi
"The next two to three months will be a critical moment for stabilizing and controlling the epidemic. The SAR government will earnestly assume the main responsibility and make good use of the strong support from the central government." Under the continuous severe fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government Li Jiachao said in an exclusive interview with a reporter from China News Agency recently.
For more than two years, the Hong Kong SAR government has been following the strategy of "preventing import from abroad and preventing proliferation from within" and the approach of "early detection, early isolation, and early treatment" to "contain" the virus and successfully contain the virus in the past. Four waves of epidemics.
Why is the fifth wave of the epidemic so severe?
Li Jiachao believes that the fifth wave of the epidemic will begin at the end of December 2021, and the Omicron strain is more transmissible than other strains. The number of infected cases has increased exponentially in a short period of time, and the situation is grim.
In response to this, the SAR government has continued to invest all resources to strengthen the ability of various anti-epidemic links, but the speed of the virus spread has greatly exceeded the SAR government's load capacity in three aspects, and serious bottlenecks have emerged, including exceeding the detection capacity, exceeding the The number of isolation facilities, and the capacity to treat the confirmed cases, has created enormous pressure.
Li Jiachao pointed out that in order to fully enhance Hong Kong's anti-epidemic capability, the SAR government made a request to the central government for assistance.
He thanked the central government for its quick response, and stressed that the SAR government will fulfill its responsibilities, take stabilizing and controlling the epidemic as the overriding task at present, mobilize all available forces and resources, and take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and health of Hong Kong citizens. Health, to ensure the overall stability of Hong Kong society.
Regarding the efforts being made by the SAR government, Li Jiachao introduced that in terms of "early detection", the SAR government has requested the central government to assist in enhancing the testing force, and has widely distributed rapid testing kits for citizens to monitor whether they and their family members are infected, and will take action against them. Higher-risk buildings carry out more "enclosed and forced inspection" actions.
With the support of the central government, Hong Kong's testing capacity has doubled and continues to increase. Therefore, "compulsory testing for all" will be implemented, and the plan is currently being fully refined; in order to achieve "early isolation", the SAR government is making every effort to set up a new monitoring system. Multi-community isolation facilities, with an estimated total of more than 70,000 units or beds, including the conversion of three unoccupied public housing estate buildings and two large-scale transitional housing projects, the rental of commercial hotels, and the construction of nine communities assisted by the central government Isolation and treatment facilities.
He also said that increasing vaccination rates is also crucial.
The Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government analyzed the first 527 new crown deaths in the fifth wave of the epidemic, of which more than 90% of the patients had not completed two doses of the new crown vaccine.
He stressed that vaccination is highly effective in preventing severe disease and even death.
In this wave of epidemics, the elderly and children in Hong Kong are significantly more affected, and it is imperative to vaccinate these two groups as soon as possible.
The SAR Government is striving to achieve 80% of the eligible population getting the second shot by mid-March, and the vaccination rate of children to reach 90% by mid-April. become.
Li Jiachao emphasized that the SAR government will continue to strictly abide by the "foreign import prevention" border control measures, and will continue to implement strict social distancing measures to greatly reduce the flow of people and prevent transmission.
At present, for residents who have tested positive, the SAR government will take measures of triage and isolation, and provide special support to citizens who are still waiting to enter the facility or quarantine at home.
The number of Hospital Authority-designated clinics has been increased to 14 on March 1 to assist people with milder infection who need consultation services from doctors.
"The SAR government is determined and will make good use of the support of the central government, unite all sectors of society, and go all out to fight the epidemic. This is the overriding task of Hong Kong at present." Li Jiachao said that the central government's support in all aspects for Hong Kong's anti-epidemic work is fast. We will make full use of the strong support from the central government and relevant provinces and cities to Hong Kong in all aspects, including the community isolation facilities built by the central government and the anti-epidemic materials donated by all parties.
Li Jiachao said that the SAR government puts the lives of citizens and public health safety first, and will implement all work as soon as possible to win the battle against the epidemic.
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