By Hong Kong’s hospital’s reached a 90% capacity on Thursday, and quarantine facilities were at their limit, specialists said, as the city battles to snuff out a record number of new COVID-19 cases by sticking to China’s “zero resistance” technique.
To facilitate the strain on the city’s healthcare system, authorities said they will take an alternate strategy to hospitalization and isolation policies and permit a few patients to be discharged sooner. The move comes amid reports of patients being treated on beds outside an emergency clinic in the city’s common neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po.
Hong Kong reported 6,116 new Covid infections on Thursday. Any individual in the city who is infected with COVID-19 should be conceded to a hospital or community isolation facility.
Under the new methodology, individuals who are infected but present mild symptoms in hospitals and government-run isolation offices will be permitted to leave after only seven days. If they test negative on the seventh day and don’t live with anybody in a high-risk group, like senior residents, pregnant ladies or immunosuppressed individuals.
The individuals who don’t meet these rules should complete the full 14-day isolation period or delay until they test negative, as indicated by health officials.
Health experts from mainland China arrived in Hong Kong to assist the city to raise its testing capabilities and help with medical resources and facilities. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam invited them to the land border with the city of Shenzhen.
“Battling the pandemic is our principal task,” Lam said. “We will dedicate each asset and manpower we have. We will impose any actions that we ought to. The point is to ensure Hong Kong individuals’ lives and health are secured and to maintain Hong Kong’s stability.”
Specialists revealed 24 new deaths over the past week. The city has now affirmed a sum of 16,600 infections, with 219 deaths.
The city’s Hospital Authority has appealed to medical experts for help, asking specialists in private hospitals to assist with treating patients at isolation facilities.
Authorities have likewise spoken to the general population, requesting that individuals abstain from going out or participating in private social events, saying that every effort helps as the city looks to reduce the burden on hospitals.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping earlier ordered the focal government to give Hong Kong assets to balance out the outbreak, including fast antigen tests, clinical skills and supplies.
China has packed down significant outbreaks through its strict “zero resistance” strategy that includes isolating approaching explorers, complete lockdowns, broad contact following and mass testing of millions of individuals.
