“One of the measures that we are preparing, and preparing very seriously, is mandatory universal testing. So we are going to test everyone in Hong Kong,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam said during a conference. press, referring to a "critical situation" in the city.

Massive testing of the population is common practice in mainland China, whose authorities observe a “zero Covid” policy which also leads them to confine entire cities for weeks.

Ms. Lam, however, ruled out confining Hong Kong, a measure that is difficult to apply in a city whose population density is one of the highest in the world and where housing is often cramped and shared.

The authorities reinforced the arsenal of distancing rules at the beginning of February.

Gatherings of more than two people are prohibited in public places and private gatherings are limited to a maximum of two households.

Since January, bars and restaurants must close at 6 p.m. and cinemas, museums, sports halls and other public places are closed.

The postponement is "in line with the spirit expressed by President Xi Jinping in his important instructions that we must make epidemic control our top priority," she said.

Earlier this week, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged Hong Kong to take "all necessary measures" to stem the pandemic.

At the cost of draconian isolation and a relentless policy of isolating the sick and contact cases, Hong Kong had recorded just over 12,000 cases of Covid-19 in the first two years of the pandemic. .

But this important global financial center is currently facing an exponential progression of the virus, linked to the highly contagious Omicron variant, which is undermining the local “zero Covid” policy, aligned with that of Beijing.

More than 11,000 new cases were recorded on Friday alone, after 12,000 on Thursday, and Hong Kong's health system was completely overwhelmed in the space of a few days.

Makeshift hospitals

Due to the lack of available rooms, dozens of patients had to wait for hours in beds or on plastic chairs outside hospitals.

The authorities have requisitioned unoccupied hotels and social housing to isolate patients with few or no symptoms, plan to build makeshift hospitals, and have called on Beijing for help.

By March, Hong Kong could reach 30,000 daily cases, according to health experts.

The elderly are particularly vulnerable: despite abundant stocks of vaccines, only 43% of 70-79 year olds and barely 26% of those over 80 have chosen to be immunized.

This outbreak comes at a politically sensitive time for Hong Kong.

A woman in a wheelchair (L) sells anti-virus protective masks and visors on a street in Hong Kong, February 18, 2022 Peter PARKS AFP

Since the gigantic pro-democracy protests of 2019, the Chinese regime has begun a severe takeover of the once semi-autonomous city.

In particular, he imposed a draconian national security law that criminalizes all forms of dissent, as well as new rules to ensure that only pro-Beijing "patriots" can exercise political responsibility in Hong Kong.

The appointment of the next chief executive, by a small committee made up of loyal supporters of Beijing, must be the high point of these reforms.

Carrie Lam, 64, has so far given no indication of whether or not she will run for a new five-year term as head of Hong Kong, the Chinese regime has refrained from saying if it still wants to she or he wanted to appoint someone else and no serious candidate has yet come forward.

© 2022 AFP