The coronavirus is spreading out of control in Hong Kong with a record 100 new cases confirmed (see 9.46am post), the finance hub’s leader said today as she tightened social distancing measures to tackle the sudden surge in infections.
The city had impressive success in tackling the disease, all but ending local transmissions by late June. However, in the last two weeks, infections have spiked once more and doctors fear the new outbreak is now spreading undetected in the densely packed territory of 7.5 million people.
Leader Carrie Lam has said today that more than 500 infections had been confirmed in the last fortnight alone, nearly a third of the 1,788 cases since the outbreak began.
“I think the situation is really critical and there is no sign the situation is being brought under control,” Lam told reporters.
Lam announced new social distancing measures last week, shuttering many businesses including bars, gyms and nightclubs, and ordering everyone to wear masks on public transport. Restaurants were ordered to only offer takeout services in the evenings.
Further regulations were announced today, including plans to make it compulsory to wear masks inside any public indoor venue – and a new order for non-essential civil servants to work for home.
As hospital wards fill, officials are also scrambling to build a further 2,000 isolation rooms on barren land near the city’s Disneyland resort to monitor and treat those who test positive, she added.
