Dr Yuen Calls for Independent Inquiry into Handling Covid-19

How well did Hong Kong handle the Covid-19 pandemic? 

Infectious diseases professor Yuen Kwok-yung is calling for an independent inquiry into Hong Kong's handling of Covid-19 so that the city can better prepare the next time another pandemic comes around.

During a radio program, Yuen explained that after the 2003 SARS outbreak (20 years ago this March!), an inquiry was held, which led to the establishment of the Centre for Health Protection. 

Yuen and his duck mask that made him endearing

The centre has since put more resources into research and this helped to fight against Covid, he said.

Yuen said there was definitely room for improvement in contact-tracing and isolation arrangements during the current pandemic.

"We saw 12,000 to 13,000 deaths. Why don't we conduct a thorough investigation and clarify what we should do in the future? Speaking for myself, if I'm lucky, as an infectious disease expert, I might see a third pandemic during my lifetime. Hong Kong must be prepared for it."

Does Yuen realise the political implications of calling for an independent inquiry and where it will go? If the government agrees to it -- and that's a big IF -- the scope would probably be so limited to ensure the authorities look good.

An independent inquiry is definitely needed -- not only in the medical handling of this pandemic that led to one of the highest death rates in the world, but also the cost from the financial handouts, to the construction of those isolation units that are now collecting dust all over the city.

Hospitals overwhelmed with infected elderlies

How many of those pandemic kits were handed out, that had N95 masks, rapid antigen tests and that Chinese herbal medicine Lianghua Qingwen? How much did that cost? And the PCR tests conducted in the community testing centres. How many vials of vaccines were wasted?

The inquiry could also give insight into the communications between the infectious disease experts like Yuen and the government, and possibly hints if Beijing played a role in Hong Kong shaping its Covid policy.

We await to see the response...

In the meantime, Yuen is suggesting that masks come off at the end of March when the weather gets warmer and the virus has a shorter life cycle.

He warned there could be another surge of Covid-19 and other respiratory disease infections after people take off their masks, but says this is an inevitable part of opening up.

Get boosted in October, November says Yuen

"Once we take off our masks, the situation may get quite serious. But we have already said in February and March 2020 that this virus will stay with us... We have to open up sooner or later, and it's better to open up sooner after enough people are vaccinated," he said.

Yuen said people should get another Covid booster by October and November to prepare for a possible rebound in the winter.

Ah, it's never ending...

HK to End Mandatory Covid-19 Isolation

Lee told lawmakers Thursday HK to end mandatory isolation

Hong Kong is buzzing with the news that from January 30, people who are infected with Covid-19 no longer have to undergo mandatory isolation for five days.

It's after the Year of the Rabbit has started, but it's still good news.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu told lawmakers that the quarantine mandate for hospitals, government facilities and patients' homes had been in force for nearly three years and it would be lifted.

"The government should shift from clear-cut management to one that allows citizens to make decisions and take responsibility for themselves," he said.

"This important step is based on science and risk assessment. This is a necessary stage for all countries in their paths to normality... Hong Kong has walked to this stage already."

The order will be lifted after CNY starts

He said the decision was made as Hong Kong has a high infection and vaccination rate, and that the city's infection rate had not worsened after the border with China was lifted two weeks ago.

More than 93 percent of Hong Kong residents have two doses of the vaccine, 84 percent have had a booster. 

Amazingly he said the city should treat Covid-19 like any other respiratory disease under the new normal.

Gasp!

Then why are people still forced to wear masks? And forced to do PCR tests before crossing the border into the mainland?

But Lee said he is working with mainland officials to end the PCR test and asked for patience. 

Cross-border students will finally be able to use RAT tests to be able to go to school as early as next month.

These units will be even more useless soon

While mainlanders are coming into Hong Kong, it's not in the droves that people feared.

Word has it that the well-heeled ones are quietly coming into the city, laying low for a few days or weeks before going to their final destination -- overseas.

The main reason is that there aren't many flights going overseas from China; in Hong Kong there is a greater choice and frequency, though they will still need to show PCR tests taken 48 hours before they fly.

So with no more mandatory isolation, those thousands of isolation units hastily built all over the city are going to be even more of an eyesore... 

Canada Also Wants Negative Covid Test

How much longer will flight crew wear hazmat suits onboard?

Happy New Year! And if you arrive in Canada from China, Hong Kong and Macau from January 5 onwards, you will have to produce a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of your flight.

Canada is now following other countries such as the United States, Japan, Italy, India and Malaysia in trying to slow down the possible surge in Covid-19 cases coming into their respective countries.

Negative Covid test needed to enter Canada

Any traveller from China, Hong Kong and Macau who is two years and older and regardless of their vaccination status must produce a negative molecular or antigen test that was supervised by a telehealth service accredited laboratory or testing provider.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is concerned there could be other variants swirling around on the Chinese mainland that the rest of the world is unaware of and hope that testing will try to keep out as many other variants as possible; that said most people outside of China have either been infected with Covid-19 and recovered, or are sufficiently vaccinated to protect themselves.

While Canada's measure is only for 30 days and then will be reassessed to continue or not, epidemiologists like University of Hong Kong's Ben Cowling do not find this a good way in stopping the virus from entering other countries.

Testing inbound travellers, with the exception of those at a few tourist destinations, "does not have much impact on the domestic spread of infections because travellers only [make up] a small fraction of a population at any given time," Cowling said in an email, adding there was no epidemiological rationale for travel restrictions at this stage of the pandemic.

HK travelers must produce negative test too

Meanwhile, before the end of 2022, several notable people passed away, including Brazilian football legend Pele, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, former Pope Benedict Ratzinger, journalist Barbara Walters, and Canadian singer and songwriter Ian Tyson.

Everyone is hoping 2023 will be much better and despite inflation, climate change and Covid-19 still lingering. No one wants to waste another moment after almost three years were gone.

Wishing everyone good health, happiness for the coming year!

Hong Kong's Nightlife Perks Up

People visiting bars and nightclubs no longer need RAT tests

Hong Kong's re-opening continues with bars and nightclubs thrilled at the news that its patrons no longer need to show a negative rapid antigen test to enter, or at cinemas, museums, amusement parks and performance venues. 

While the cap on banquets at 240 people has been lifted (how did they even come up with that number?), the rules that a maximum of 12 per table and wearing masks in public still remain.

Lee will visit Beijing on Wednesday

It seems the Hong Kong government doesn't seem to care how the lifting of social-distancing measures has had on the healthcare system, with over 14,500 new infections, 4,105 need to be hospitalised. That said there are 41 patients in ICU.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu warned the number of people receiving hospital treatment surged to over 4,000 -- four times the figure of when arrivals to Hong Kong underwent "0+3".

"The consideration is that we have to gradually open up while putting the risk under control," he said during a press conference announcing he would travel to Beijing on Wednesday until Saturday.

On the agenda? Talks to reopen the border with China, and ask about the progress for Beijing for its interpretation of the national security law on whether overseas counsel were allowed to take part in relevant cases, and in this case Jimmy Lai Chee-ying.

But back to the lifting of Covid-19 rules -- people can finally freely patronise bars and nightclubs, and restaurants and hotels are doing brisk business, why is it that people can't gather to watch fireworks still?

The government released a notice saying the 2023 Lunar New Year fireworks display would be cancelled. 

Yet another lunar new year without fireworks

"While there have been adjustments to the anti-epidemic measures recently, allowing the staging of more large-scale activities in society, this year's Lunar New Year Fireworks Display could not be organised in time, as it normally takes two to three months to arrange," it said.

Seems like the government was either caught completely off guard by the recent developments or it's a cost-saving measure. Either way it has sucked out the fun of the upcoming Year of the Rabbit already.

Visitors Trickle into Hong Kong

Hong Kong Tourism Board is promoting the city again

While people are happy to see "0+0" or no restrictions when coming into Hong Kong -- provided you test negative upon arrival -- many are still leery of traveling to the city because of the other tests they need to do in the following days.

Even though the Hong Kong Tourism Board will be heavily promoting the city with its "Hello! Hong Kong" campaign, travel agencies are reporting prospective visitors are concerned about having to do the testing requirements.

Arrival numbers are still sluggish

"As long as there is the PCR and antigen [tests], it is kind of disheartening because [tourists] will always be afraid that if they have a positive result, they'll just be staying in the hotel" said Dolly Santos, president of Manila-based Golden Sky Travel and Tours.

Nevertheless, the tourism board is targeting Southeast Asian visitors. These short-haul flights account for 14,368 of the 80,524 travellers who visited Hong Kong in October, while 47,607 came from the mainland.

In November the number of visitors was 113,763, a 41 percent increase from the month previous. In 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic, the number was 55.91 million.

But even if the tourism board tries to entice prospective travellers with incentives, there aren't necessarily enough planes to carry all these visitors, which is why ticket prices are high at the moment.

Ricky Tse Kam-ting, vice-chairman of the Travel Industry Council expects a growing number of the visitors will be business travellers, as for them the current situation is far better than what was in place before, and could only loosen further eventually.

Lo wants people to keep using the LHS app

He estimates that of the 80,000 travellers who came last month, about half were in Hong Kong for business, and the number could double to 80,000 by January.

So have people gleefully deleted the Leave Home Safe app from their phones in the last few days?

Secretary for Health Dr Lo Chung-mau is begging people not to.

He said people still need to show their vaccination record which is stored in the app, though they could also use the eHealth and iAM Smart app, though they sound just as pathetic as the Leave Home Safe app...

East Versus West in Dealing with Covid-19

Everyone must wear a mask outside in Hong Kong

Big news in Hong Kong -- anyone arriving in the city from November 21 will only have to do 10 Covid-19 tests instead of 12!

Currently they need to do eight rapid antigen tests (RAT) and four polymerase chain reaction (PCR), but now they can do two less PCR tests. Whoo hoo!

The government says 82 percent of infected arrivals were detected through the first two PCR tests, and only 0.4 and 0.1 percent of infections were found in later tests.

Arrival passengers have 2 less PCR tests to take

Are two fewer tests going to entice more people to come to Hong Kong? Hardly.

But mask mandates are still in force and enforced as soon as you step out of your home. Everywhere from the MTR and bus to shopping malls, supermarkets, and concerts, people must wear masks unless you're eating in a restaurant or eatery, or having a drink.

Children wear masks in the classroom, and need to decipher what the teacher is saying from behind his or her mask. For some young children, wearing a mask is all they know. 

Meanwhile in British Columbia, the provincial health authority stopped short of calling for a mask mandate, despite the rising number of children with respiratory illnesses and hospitals' capacities to the brink.

"I don't believe we need that heavy hand of a mandate," said Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry. "I don't see the need for a mask mandate by itself because we have many other tools and a high level of protection."

Henry stops short of calling for a mask mandate

She said mask mandates were in place before because Covid-19 vaccines weren't available for children, and people were getting sick from gathering.

"In that context, masks were important and necessary. We are in a different situation now. We have a very high level of immunity. We have vaccines. We have treatments for influenza, for Covid-19, for RSV," she said.

But only 50 percent of children have had a first Covid-19 jab. 

RSV is respiratory synctial virus that causes infections in the lungs and respiratory tract.

Some parents, teachers and doctors are calling for a mask mandate or at least mandatory masking in indoor places, but Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix refuse to call for this, only encouraging people to wear masks in settings where it makes sense -- on transit, in crowds, and when sick -- masks are mandatory when in hospitals and long-term care homes.

What's wrong with "strongly recommend"? People may have Covid fatigue, but Covid isn't tired of us, as one health professional in Ontario said last week.

People won't take masking seriously in BC

The more people mask up, then fewer will end up in hospital and fewer healthcare workers will be overwhelmed and sick too.

But not even saying "strongly recommend" makes it hard for people to take masking seriously. No wonder this pandemic will never end... Hong Kong on the one hand is extreme in its Covid-19 regulations, and British Columbia is too lax on the other. 

In general there is a slight increase in people wearing masks in Vancouver, but not enough...

HK's Contradictory Covid Messaging

Lee (middle) says masks must still be worn outdoors

While Hong Kong has gone down to "0+3" in terms of quarantine, and 12 to a table and people can meet in groups of 12 in public, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu still insists that the mask mandate must continue outdoors.

In an RTHK phone-in show, Lee claimed the reason was to protect the vulnerable, in other words the elderly and children.

A bar is raided by police, checking Covid-19 app

Hello... it's OUTSIDE.

He added when the vaccination rate for children goes up then perhaps they would revisit the mask mandate, but until then, everyone needs to mask up.

"One thing that has been agreed by all the experts that I have come across, whether they are subscribing to their own school of thought... then there is a very general agreement that mask-wearing should continue," Lee said.

Meanwhile the Hong Kong police continue to raid bars with live performers, shutting down acts by forcing everyone to produce their LeaveHomeSafe app and their HKID. 

Talk about killing the mood -- no one dares say a word in case the police decide to fine someone for not being cooperative.

And Lee thinks people want to come back to Hong Kong to visit, or even move back there?

If test positive, bankers can flee by jet or yacht

Meanwhile bankers who attend next month's finance summit in Hong Kong are exempt from being restricted from going to bars and restaurants for three days in order to attend conferences and meet clients, though the visiting bankers must still conduct the battery of RAT and PCR tests.

However, if they do test positive, they won't be forced to isolate until they get better, but instead can leave the city via private jet or yacht -- if they did not fly into Hong Kong on commercial flights.

It has now become one city, two systems.

How is this fair to residents? Is this finance summit really going to jump start the economy?

And these finance types are complicit in presenting the image that Hong Kong is open for business.

But the reality could not be further from the truth...

Quote of the Day: "One-Way Ticket to Hell"

Health secretary Lo (left) and Lee at press conference yesterday

Soon after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the end of hotel quarantine -- but three days of self-monitoring, which actually means seven days of rapid antigen tests and four PCR tests, no restaurants or crowded areas -- he faced the media who had some accountability questions.

Cable TV asked: "Have we now chosen to 'live with the virus'? Does this go against the central government? We have also heard 'living with the virus' is a one-way ticket to hell."

Zunzi cartoon with "going to hell together" at back

Lee's response: "We want to reduce the number of infections. Same as the mainland."

But...

"The Hong Kong SAR government has considered all factors," he continued. 

"What if there's a new variant? We don't have a crystal ball. We are confident we can contain the infection numbers at a reasonable rate currently," he said. "We don't want to backtrack."

Well, neither do we.

Though other social-distancing restrictions are still in place, such as conducting RAT tests before entering bars, and for eating in restaurants in groups larger than eight, live performances and dancing still not allowed, and of course use the LeaveHomeSafe app to enter premises.

Still want to come to Hong Kong?

Living with Covid, HK and Vancouver

Nine or more per table and everyone needs to show RAT tests

With the rapid increase of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong, the government has introduced a new measure sure to hit Chinese restaurants again. People dining with more than eight at the table must produce negative rapid antigen tests a maximum of 24 hours before entry.

Previously people who wanted to go to bars and clubs had to produce RAT tests, but now it's locals having family gatherings or birthday parties that will also have to do the same, making it more egalitarian in a way, and not targeting one segment of the population.

Chinese restaurants have seen bookings of nine people or more cancelled, or perhaps they will see two different people booking tables and requesting to be next to each other? This is where Hongkongers get creative and restaurants are willing to turn a blind eye...

Those going to bars, clubs must show RAT results

William So Man-sing, assistant general manager of London Restaurant, a Chinese cuisine outlet in Mongkok anticipates a 20 percent drop in business. He has also bought extra RAT tests for customers who show up forgetting to do the test, though they have to pay HK$10 for it. 

"I have to cater space for a test area and also need to clean and disinfect the place every time. I hope patrons can do their rapid tests at home, it will be more convenient," So said.

There is a seven-day grace period, but restaurants are hoping the government can extend it by another week. 

Some people reacted by saying they are not deterred from organising large gatherings and will make conducting RAT tests a habit, while others think it's a good idea to do the test before meeting friends and loved ones.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on a radio show he hoped residents would cooperate and self-test before attending gatherings and banquets.

"As people take off their masks at such events, the risk of spreading the coronavirus is larger," he said.

In Vancouver masking is a personal choice

"The daily caseload has been increasing, and could possibly exceed 10,000 infections. We need to strike a balance between people's livelihood and anti-epidemic needs," he added. 

"We hope that when the infection numbers decreases, we can relax the rules again."

Yet another setback for restaurants, particularly Chinese ones as they struggle to make ends meet after over two years of the pandemic. 

There are still many people who refuse to go out much, let alone eat in big groups, while others go about life almost as normal -- with a mask on -- except when dining in restaurants.

It also shows the government is trying to be somewhat reasonable, but how do you decide eight to a table and say not 10? For wedding banquets it's totally understandable for everyone to produce a negative test, but for a dim sum gathering? 

Everyone has different comfort levels. 

Henry is not calling for mask mandates again

Here in British Columbia, the provincial health officer Bonnie Henry is not enforcing a mask mandate, but instead urges people to get vaccinated, including children, observe good hygiene and if you don't feel well, stay at home.

Compared to Hong Kong it seems very lax and many people refuse to go back to mask-wearing or don't see the effectiveness of it, or have pandemic fatigue.

One colleague said she stopped wearing masks everywhere she goes and thinks our office is too extreme in recommending employees wear masks, while a few of us wear it because we live with elderly parents and don't want to inadvertently pass on the virus. 

That made her realise there still is a broad spectrum of opinions when it comes to the pandemic, and those who are cautious need to be respected for their concerns.

Hotel Quarantines Cut... Sort Of

Lee announced shorter quarantine times for travellers to HK

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has announced this morning Hong Kong time that hotel quarantines have been cut to three days and four days home monitoring from August 12. 

Local residents were thrilled to see the length of time stuck in a hotel room for no good reason will be shortened, but moaned that this would not entice visitors to come back anytime soon.

Those returning to Hong Kong from Friday will need to use the new health code, where if they test negative, they will be placed under a yellow code. This means they cannot visit places such as restaurants, bars, concerts and elderly care homes, but that if their rapid antigen test is negative, they can go about taking public transport, even go back to work(!) and shop for food or go to the shopping mall.

If person tests negative at airport, get yellow code

Once people have successfully completed this 3+4 arrangement, then their health code will turn blue. Strange that it's not green... And of course those who are infected with Covid-19 are red.

The several days of PCR tests will also continue...

The long-awaited coloured health code is going to be implemented, somewhat following what has already been implemented in China since near the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.

There are fears that this health code will replace the dreaded LeaveHomeSafe app for the rest of Hong Kong's population and is yet another step in having Hong Kong further conform to the mainland. 

As soon as the shortened quarantine was announced, many were rejoicing, making it even more possible for them to travel again for the first time in over two years, but others still questioned the need to be stuck in a hotel room and paying out of pocket when the rest of the world does not have this regulation (except China and Macau).

Hong Kong health experts like Ben Cowling have said many times that the numbers of infected people coming into the city are so low that hospitals would be able to handle the case loads, and so there isn't a need to have hotel quarantines.

Quarantine hotels made money in pandemic

Perhaps three days was chosen as apparently for every 1,000 travellers coming into Hong Kong, 40 test positive for Covid within three days. And also the day you arrive is counted as Day zero, not Day 1.

Lee explained the government recommendations were based on scientific data, which showed travellers' risk level after three days "is no more than the risk level of transmission in society".

"Based on this analysis, we consider that the risk is under control, and balance it against the needs for other activities to take place. This new measure of '3+4' will be in the best interests of Hong Kong," he said.

"I must emphasise that during the fourth day of medical surveillance, there are also PCR checks, so we will know if there are any changes in risks."

In other words, if there are more infections found on the fourth day, hotel quarantines may be extended, but Lee said he would try his best not to roll back on measures.

Nevertheless, his ultimate goal is to reopen to the mainland, and Lee says he is trying to find ways to make it less inconvenient for people. China's current quarantine measures are 7+3.

In the meantime Hong Kong hoteliers must be annoyed at this new announcement, as those who converted their hotels for quarantine ones have raked in a lot of money these past two years. But surely they would want things to go back to normal too...

Would You Like a Raid with Your Dinner?

Imagine having your dinner interrupted by screaming officers

On the Instagram account of Hong Kong restaurant group Black Sheep Restaurants the latest post is this message:

"We had a bit of an intense night at Carbone yesterday, we think we were in compliance with the current regs and we are checking with our lawyers."

One of its restaurants is Carbone, a New York-style steakhouse above Lan Kwai Fong in Central that pays homage to the mid-20th century. Suited waiters may entertain guests with funny comments as they dine on American-sized portions of food, mostly meats, pastas and sides, while desserts are presented on a trolley.

Carbone is above Lan Kwai Fong in Central

Last night in the middle of dinner service, inspectors from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and police officers suddenly appeared in the restaurant and apparently screamed at guests to stay where they were and shut up. No one was allowed to talk or even go to the washroom for 45 minutes. Nor were they allowed to touch their phones.

Apparently the staff were each fined HK$5,000 (US$637) for contravening the latest Covid-19 regulations of not inspecting guests' rapid antigen tests.

However, the restaurant did not violate any rules -- it is a restaurant and not a bar or nightclub, which now require each patron to present a negative RAT result before entering.

So why did the FEHD and police raid this place? Did they not know it was a restaurant and not a bar?

Did FEHD do their homework on Carbone first?

Someone either did not do their homework about Carbone, or were using it as an example to other places.

While Black Sheep Restaurants are checking with their lawyers, there isn't much they can do -- the FEHD can pretty much flaunt its power without much oversight or accountability. 

It's intriguing none of the guests were fined, but the staff were, and it seems Carbone was the only restaurant targeted last night.

The incident must be sending chills to every restaurateur in Hong Kong -- which guest wants to endure an experience like that when they're already paying big bucks for a good dinner?

Is this raiding restaurants and screaming at guests going to be the norm now? If so it will definitely turn off people from wanting to dine out again. 

A police raid at another restaurant recently 

It also begs the question if guides like Michelin and Asia's 50 Best Restaurants feel confident enough to continue to promote Hong Kong restaurants when diners can be subject to an outrageous interruption to their meal out of no fault of the dining establishment?

If it is the new normal, surely more people are going to be fed up by this and want to leave Hong Kong...

The government seems intent on killing its own city. And it's doing a really good job of it.

Carrie's Impromptu Press Conference

Lam gathers media to tell them she is transparent

The media in Hong Kong were alerted to the Chief Executive holding a press conference in 90 minutes.

What was she going to talk about?

When reporters assembled and waited for Lam to come out at 2.30pm, it was about Covid-19. 

"Since the daily positive confirmed cases have escalated to over 1,000, although I'm coming to the end of my term, I'm still shouldering the responsibilities to fight Covid-19," Lam said.

Farry shows squeezing his name on RAT

"So I chaired a high level, cross bureau meeting this morning together with the chief executive of the Hospital Authority, and in line with the spirit of transparency, I thought I should let you know the outcome of the discussion. So that's the purpose for holding this press conference." 

Really? That could have just merited a press release.

Meanwhile people are staying away from bars and nightclubs like the plague. That's because in order to enter these premises, patrons must conduct a rapid antigen test, some how scrawl their name and the date on it (within 24 hours), and take a photograph of it before showing it to the bar staff for entry.

Many are complaining about not having enough space to write their names on RATs which is totally understandable as no one thought of that beforehand.

When it came to schools, there are infections here and there, but not enough to merit a full school shut down.

Lam said that since schools had their holidays in the spring, they won't get another break this summer. Talk about students going to school endlessly. But perhaps it's better than learning online...

As many of the clusters are from large gatherings, she has cancelled the upcoming Legislative Council farewell lunch on June 21 -- did lawmakers want to eat with her anyway?! -- and has suggested that families not have large gatherings for the upcoming Father's Day.

Talk about putting a spoiler on weekend plans.

25th anniversary banquet supposedly going ahead

However -- when asked if the 25th anniversary banquet will go ahead, Lam seemed to indicate it would, which is why the government cannot ban multi-household gatherings without being hypocrites.

So she is not outright banning gatherings, but strongly suggesting people wear masks as soon as they finish eating, not participate in big gatherings, and remain vigilant.

She wants to look like she is concerned about the issue, and yet she cannot act too paranoid because a supposed banquet may happen in two weeks and so she can't ban large gatherings, like the one on July 1.

Neither did she indicate Beijing officials would not want to come to Hong Kong if the number of cases exceeded 1,000 when the zero-Covid strategy is taken literally.

What exactly is Lam trying to achieve here? Telling others to cut down on their gatherings so that she can have her big bash on July1? 

Definitely sounds like one city, two systems...

Hong Kong Changes Covid-19 Rules Again

Chan says they need to protect the elderly

Outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said over a week ago that Covid-19 social-distancing restrictions would not change until the change of leader on July 1.

But now with the rising number of cases that could hit 1,000, Lam's administration is saying that from Thursday, those people who patronise bars and clubs should test negative for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours before entering.

Patrons need negative test for bars, night clubs

There have been 350 infections since bars and clubs reopened last month.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee told a daily pandemic briefing that this new measure needed to be taken because the number of cases are rising.

"It is important for us to not allow this spread to go wild," she explained. "Because of this spread goes wild, then there is always the possibility of going into our elderly community. And this is our priority group we have to protect, as we learn from the previous experience of the fifth wave."

How does people going to nightclubs and bars have any connection with elderly people?

And if the government wants to protect the elderly, perhaps it should get more of these seniors vaccinated, because only 27 percent of them are double jabbed. That is an appallingly low number. In Canada people 80 and over who have two doses is at 98.5 percent.

How are the authorities going to protect the elderly by getting bar and nightclub customers to present a negative Covid-19 test? Seems like a massive stretch to solve the issue.

It's so easy to fake a negative RAT result

Also -- has the government thought how bars and clubs would police this? How easy is it to present a picture of a negative rapid antigen test from days earlier -- or even someone else's photo of a RAT?

On Twitter people were sarcastically saying they could make a quick buck selling negative RATs, but it would be even easier to get a picture of a negative RAT result?

It's absolutely ridiculous and at the same time will make bars and clubs suffer even more when they are struggling to climb out of the red after months of being shut because of the pandemic. How is someone getting infected from a bar different from a restaurant, where eight people can sit at a table for hours until midnight?

It boggles the mind...

Covid Cluster in Kennedy Town

Sai Wan Estate has been locked down after infections found

It was quite a surprise to see the University of Hong Kong's medical faculty posted a warning on Twitter for its staff and students to be aware that there is a Covid-19 cluster in Kennedy Town and to avoid eating and doing any "mask off activities" in the area!

Kennedy Town was where I lived for nine years, a sleepy residential area that soon became hipster when the MTR came in and droves of people came to check out Instagram pier (that unceremoniously closed almost two years ago), have coffee from Arabica and buy bulk food from Slowood.

Instagram pier was a fun photo-op place

When HKU medical faculty issued this warning, it was unusual because the Centre for Health Protection didn't report a growing cluster in this area in Western district. But the health authorities have since locked down an entire housing estate and found 22 infections out of 1,680 people tested so far. 

Yesterday Chuang Shuk-kwan of the CHP said they had found "very high viral loads" in the sewage samples from Sai Wan Estate, especially in its building called West Terrace.

All five blocks are locked down until Friday morning after compulsory testing is completed. 

Hong Kong recorded 294 new cases, and one death.

This contrasts significantly with Taiwan which has just over 90,000 new cases.

I arrived in Los Angeles this morning. To prepare for the flight we complied with all the requisite US government requirements: a rapid antigen test conducted by a medical professional (CAD$90 each) and have the written test result printed out, and a copy of the vaccination record. 

Flying into LA this morning

We uploaded all this information when we checked-in online, though for some reason when I uploaded my Hong Kong vaccination record it could not be done and I was instructed online to show this document at the airport.

Just in case I printed out everything, the attestation that we each tested negative and we were vaccinated (at least two jabs). When we arrived bleary-eyed at the airport at 5.30am, no one asked to see any of this paperwork, none of the airline staff nor US immigration officers...

How About RATs for Restaurants?

Tsang suggesting diners show RAT results at restaurants

There are now eight people who tested positive in a cluster from eating in a restaurant in Yuen Long. They had eaten breakfast at Peony Golden Court last Sunday.

Seven of them were triple jabbed, one had two doses, and they all had mild or no symptoms.

Based on this, an infectious diseases expert is suggesting to the government that people not only use the Leave Home Safe app to prove they are vaccinated, but also show a negative rapid antigen test in places where masks are exempted, like restaurants. 

People take off masks to eat in restaurants

On a program on RTHK, Joseph Tsang Kay-yan said taking masks off in places like restaurants involves risk of transmission. 

"We ask visitors to the hospitals to show their RAT result of the day of visit because we're very worried they may be asymptomatic patients. Children also need to do RAT before going to school in the morning," he said.

"I don't know if the government will, after what happened [in Peony Golden Court], require people to show a negative RAT result before entering the scheduled premises where they can take their masks off, in order to prevent such incidents from happening again."

How is Hong Kong supposed to inch towards normalcy if experts like Tsang are putting more roadblocks in front of the public? Students are going to school all day, or at least longer than most meals, so it's understandable that they should get a RAT.

But what if someone needs to get a quick bite at a cha chaan teng, or a coffee with someone in a cafe? Do they need to produce a RAT for a 15-20 minute visit?

Getting RAT every time they dine is tedious

Here in Vancouver I attended a dinner with 16 people sitting at one table. Granted we were the only customers left in the dining area for a very late meal, but still, we all sat together, and not two tables of eight with plastic barriers in between.

That said, the restaurant closed at 10pm and we were out of there half an hour later.

Nevertheless, people in Hong Kong are tired of the extreme caution. There is the possibility the Yuen Long cluster will grow larger, or that it won't. 

If RAT is required, then there will be more people fabricating results, or recycling old ones because they can't be bothered to test everyday. Why create more opportunities for loopholes?

At least everyone who is dining out these days is vaccinated, which is the most important thing.