Isolation Facilities Almost like Staycation

The new isolation units almost -- almost -- like a hotel room

Security minister Chris Tang Ping-keung wants to show he's doing a good job, just over a month into the new administration.

He posted pictures of a new Covid-19 isolation facility next to the Kai Tai cruise terminal for those who have been infected with the virus but cannot isolate at home.

The 3,000 unit facility even has elevators

There are 3,000 new units on four floors which have elevators! And some are adjoining rooms for families! Washrooms in each unit! Oh and there's sea views too! The garden even has a retired government aircraft for decoration.

The place almost sounds like a hotel, but it's not.

"We hope that everyone will enjoy a better experience during their isolation, where they can find a little sweetness in the bitterness," Tang said.

The government is trying to do better after scathing criticism of the isolation units in Tsing Yi that were hastily built by China State Construction Engineering Corporation in seven days.

That resulted in flooding in the area soon after it was in operation, users having to walk on stools to go use a bathroom outside of the unit, and sharing the room with three other strangers.

In this fifth wave, Hong Kong is seeing over 4,000 cases a day and 5,500 units in Penny's Bay are occupied as well as 800 beds in two designated hotels, the occupancy is 80 percent. 

The sea view that Tang mentioned 

But as most cases have mild symptoms and most can isolate at home, why not use these 3,000 units for social housing? There are so many people in wait lists for public housing, and so many homeless -- why not put them there first?

The government seems so hell bent on dealing with Covid-19 that it has forgotten the central government's concerns about housing issues...