In the former British colony, more than 100 deaths per day have been recorded since the beginning of March. The latest epidemic wave is the deadliest Hong Kong has seen so far, and the government appears to be hesitant about how to respond.
While in Europe all eyes are on Ukraine and the Covid-19 seems almost a memory, Hong Kong is facing the worst epidemic wave since the start of the pandemic.
On March 9, the daily death toll in the territory “was 291 people”, report it South China Morning Post. A particularly high figure due to catch-ups, but which is part of a specific trend. Indeed, since the beginning of March, Hong Kong has systematically recorded more than 100 daily deaths and sometimes more than 200. The number of new contaminations, which nevertheless seems to be stabilizing, also remains very high.
Faced with the magnitude of this fifth wave, which already at the end of February was putting the hospital system under pressure, the local government gave contradictory signals, notes the correspondent of the New York Times in Hong Kong:
Under pressure from Beijing, officials have pledged to test all 7.4 million residents, but such an operation would require restricting people’s freedom of movement, and the government has remained ambiguous about the possibility of a confinement. Nevertheless, the mere possibility of it being put in place sparked a race to buy groceries and other goods.”
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