Hong Kong Local
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:44:24 +0800Highest number of unlinked cases in new wave recorded
Health authorities said they were unable to trace 22 newly confirmed coronavirus cases, as they reported that Hong Kong added 129 cases on Lunar New Year’s Day.
"I think the number of 22 unlinked cases is the highest so far since the fifth wave,"...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 14:35:16 +0800HA chief warns of 'tsunami' of Covid cases after LNY
The chief executive of the Hospital Authority Dr Tony Ko on Tuesday warned there could be a "tsunami" of Covid outbreaks after the Lunar New Year holiday.
Writing on his blog, Ko said the chance of a major outbreak after the holiday has now reached ...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:15:58 +0800'Movie sector facing layoffs, less investment'
A representative for cinema operators on Tuesday said some members in the trade may have to lay off staff and close down, as theatres remain shut under the government's Covid-19 restrictions.
The chairman of the Hong Kong Theatres Association, Timo...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:40:51 +0800Cash better than e-vouchers: economic scholar
An economics scholar on Tuesday said it would be better if the government gave people cash instead of electronic consumption vouchers – if officials decide to distribute a fresh round of handouts.
Financial Secretary Paul Chan is expected to deliv...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:44:28 +0800Govt adds three hotels for contacts of Covid patients
The Government said on Monday that three hotels will be added as quarantine hotels for close contacts of cases tested positive for the coronavirus until April 30.
It said in a statement that Dorsett Mongkok, Hong Kong and Grand City Hotel would be ...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 18:24:34 +0800More evacuations as HK sees another 92 infections
Hong Kong authorities have ordered residents of another four housing blocks into quarantine, as Monday brought 80 new locally transmitted Covid infections and 12 imported cases.
The quarantine orders, due to virus transmission in the blocks, affect ...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:46:47 +0800Caspar Tsui's exit prompts sadness, understanding
Lawmakers and people who have worked with Caspar Tsui on Monday expressed understanding and sadness over his decision to resign as home affairs secretary after getting caught up in a scandal over a Covid-hit birthday party.
Tsui’s partymate, DAB c...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 17:24:48 +0800Caspar Tsui did the right thing by resigning: CE
The Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, said on Monday that Caspar Tsui's resignation as the home affairs minister is a testimony to the spirit of the administration’s political accountability system.
Tsui was among a number of officials and lawmakers wh...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 13:11:04 +0800'Tiger-like spirit takes HK to new era of prosperity'
Chief Executive Carrie Lam says Hong Kong is "set to usher in a brighter future" in the Year of the Tiger, following a year of success in maintaining the city's stability.
In a minute-long video released on Monday, the CE expressed confidence in th...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 12:48:03 +0800Home Affairs Secretary Caspar Tsui resigns
Caspar Tsui resigned as home affairs secretary on Monday, saying he had behaved inappropriately by attending a party earlier this month as Hong Kong was bracing for a new wave of Covid infections.
Tsui was one of a number of officials and lawmakers ...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 12:25:02 +0800Don't treat Covid as endemic too early, expert warns
A medical expert advising the government says Covid-19 should only be treated as an endemic disease when the fatality rate becomes comparable to flu and when at least 90 percent of the population is vaccinated.
Lau Yu-lung said on Monday that histo...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 11:23:36 +0800Officials may call app users for tests or quarantine
Health authorities may in future call up people who need to be tested for Covid-19 or sent into quarantine using contact information provided in the LeaveHomeSafe app.
Secretary for Innovation and Technology Alfred Sit said on Monday that operators...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 07:21:32 +0800One Covid case found in Kwai Chung lockdown
Health officials on Monday said a resident of Shek Wah House in Kwai Chung's Shek Lei (II) Estate has tested preliminary positive for Covid during an overnight lockdown, while a separate lockdown in To Kwa Wan found no cases.
Shek Wah House, where a...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 20:44:45 +0800Lockdowns ordered in To Kwa Wan, Kwai Chung
Health officials on Sunday launched an overnight lockdown and testing operations covering four adjacent tenement buildings in To Kwa Wan and, separately, a residential block in Kwai Chung.
People at 18 and 20 Yin On Street and 17 and 19 Tsun Fat Str...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 18:11:29 +0800'Vaccine pass may have to include public transport'
Respiratory medicine expert David Hui says the government’s planned “vaccine pass” may have to cover public transport and other crowded places like malls or supermarkets, but he warned against relaxing social-distancing measures too soon.
“A...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 17:06:16 +0800Covid figures drop, but more unlinked cases emerge
Hong Kong reported 77 new local coronavirus cases on Sunday, among them 15 were untraceable.
The Centre for Health Protection’s Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said the patients who were infected by unknown sources live in various districts, including Tuen M...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 15:04:08 +0800Govt says commenting on Covid strategy is not illegal
The government on Sunday said it’s not against the law to “discuss views” on the effectiveness of its policies against Covid-19, as it stressed that “dynamic clearance” is the most effective way to cope with the pandemic.
In a statement, ...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 13:47:56 +0800Send your well-wishes virtually: Sophia Chan
Health minister Sophia Chan on Sunday urged people to cut down on gatherings over the Lunar New Year holiday and use virtual communications to send season's greetings.
"The year of Tiger is fast approaching. Because of the pandemic, we have to stri...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 12:12:35 +0800'Shorter quarantine may ease helper shortage soon'
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Law Chi-kwong, said on Sunday that the severe shortage of foreign domestic helpers may ease next month, when more of them can come to Hong Kong after the quarantine period is shortened from 21 days to 14.
Writi...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 10:48:35 +0800Dynamic Covid clearance has majority support: survey
Almost 70 percent of Hong Kong people support the government’s “dynamic clearance” strategy against the new wave of Covid-19 outbreaks, a survey has found.
The think tank Bauhinia Institute said it interviewed around a thousand people between...