Hong Kong is planning to test its population of about 7.5 million people for COVID-19 three times in March.
The city announced Tuesday that it will mandate testing for its residents in order to combat the largest wave of COVID-19 it has faced so far, aiming to get its vaccination rate up to 90% in March.
“We are seeing the exponential surge in the number of COVID cases,” Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said during a press conference. “We are trying to prevent local infection cases. We have a multipronged approach to trying to stop the virus through early identification, early isolation, and early treatment. We are targeting zero infection. So we have various measures to try to contain the virus with only one objective: to try to protect the lives and safety of the public.”
Lam said the city is aiming to test about 1 million people a day, according to the Associated Press. The testing will take place based on the birth year of residents, the Guardian reported.
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During the press conference, Lam said the city received resources from China to help expand testing and isolation facilities in the city. She said China did not give the city instructions on how to deal with the pandemic but has provided considerable support. Lam also said the city is pursuing China’s “zero-COVID-19” strategy but does not plan to lock down large residential areas the way China has done when it detects the spread of the virus in its cities.
The city will move the school break for students that normally takes place from July to August to March and April, Lam said. Schools will then be used as facilities to test, isolate, and vaccinate residents against COVID-19.
Lam said the recent wave of COVID-19 threatens to overwhelm hospitals. The city reported 3,570 cases and 12 new deaths on Monday, according to Our World in Data. The city also has an estimated 77.8% of its population vaccinated with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Hong Kong will maintain its ban on dining at restaurants after 6 p.m. and its restrictions on venues such as bars, gyms, and beauty parlors until April 20, the Associated Press reported. Hong Kong will also maintain its ban on flights from “high risk” countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States until April 20.
