Hong Kong orders mandatory COVID-19 tests for all residents

Lam needs to leave. She is untrusted and a central figure in all mistrust of the city govt.

The CCP leads the way in using Covid as an excuse to impose total control over society.

China doesn’t need an excuse. It’s the authoritarian father and head of the household. The two systems is merely a Tatemae.

The order for citywide testing comes after mainland Chinese authorities dispatched epidemiologists, health workers and other medical resources last week to help contain the outbreak in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

The resources are there. Make use of it.

Hong Kong has largely aligned itself with mainland China’s “zero-COVID-19” policy, which aims to totally stamp out outbreaks, even as many other countries are shifting their approach to living with the virus.

The Western approach of living with the virus is more realistic. Zero-Covid-19 will lead to burn out. Humans can only be locked down temporarily and fir so long. Japan has the best balance.

The insanity continues . ..

Yeah, testing is insane, right? You would have thought of a stupid idea like testing people?

Addfwyn:

One problem is that many of the old folks haven't been vaccinated. It can spread like wildfire once it gets into those retirement homes. But I think it's crazy to put every infected person into quarantine hotels - these hotels and accommodations in Penny's Bay were already packed even before this wave. Those with no and mild symptoms should be allowed to isolate at home. Once again, Mother Mainland has to help out.

Bronco:

The CCP leads the way in using Covid as an excuse to impose total control over society.

If you mean China managed to get everything under control in record time, then yes. But other countries have been having lockdowns too, like UK and the rest of Europe. Look at the number of deaths there. Wuhan was back up and running in no time. It's a combination of governmental policies and cooperation from citizens. People in China (and East Asia in general) know they have to make small sacrifices because they know life will get back to normal much quicker and without all those western-style deaths.

It is silly to control Omicron as the risks are low and should be allowed to run its course. However the low vaccination rates in HK is a concern for the healthcare system.

Useless - Covid needs to run it's course - don't get in it's way - it's the only way things will get better.

The insanity continues . ..

Japan should do the same.

The Western approach of living with the virus is more realistic. Zero-Covid-19 will lead to burn out. Humans can only be locked down temporarily and fir so long. Japan has the best balance.

I agree with your first two statements quercetum, but not entirely with this one.

I think Zero CV-19 does work, mainland China has shown that much, but I think it also has to be done from the very beginning. Once the cat is out of the proverbial bag, I think it is too late. HK may be be too far gone at this point to adopt the same strategy that has worked for the rest of China.

Hopefully I am wrong and they can pull it off, I don't want to see anyone die unnecessarily. I am just a llittle bit skeptical that it isn't too late.

With a testing capacity able to process the whole city in a week, makes sense to me.

A bit late, but definitely a first step at getting things under control. Between this and the resources being lent from the rest of the country, really do hope they can get it under control as soon as possible. Have quite a few friends there that have been impacted pretty heavily in the recent months and definitely want to see things resolves sooner than later.

She also denied that the central Chinese government is giving instructions to Hong Kong on how to handle the epidemic.

Unless HK somehow turns it around in record time, the central government probably should be taking over though. Lending resources is all well and good, but if they aren't utilized effectively it may not matter.