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Saturday, Feb 22, 2025
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Former HA chief expects ‘0+0’ scheme this month with Covid mutations now common
Former chief executive of Hospital Authority Leung Pak-yin expected the “0+0” quarantine scheme to be announced this month despite authorities downplaying its forthcoming roll-out.
His comments came after chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday morning that Hong Kong has to hold steady in easing its quarantine measures as the city has seen the number of imported cases climbing.
Writing on Facebook, Leung said a steady approach in the easing of the city’s border control measures is understandable, but it should not depend on the figure of local and imported infections but on the clinical status of the patients.
He explained that most confirmed patients in the city were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms and need not be treated in the hospital.
He also pointed out that coronavirus mutation is now common, and the trends in virology and epidemiology usually see a virus that mutates becoming weaker as it becomes more widespread.
Covid mutation should not be a problem as long as the vaccination rate is high enough with effective medication to treat the disease, Leung added.
Meanwhile, he noted there are signs showing the SAR government will soon roll out the “0+0” quarantine scheme, with authorities increasing the number of community testing centers across the city to allow arrivals to get tested for Covid easier.
The former HA chief believed the SAR government will still have to take into account many other factors before they make up their minds, but he looks forward to hearing the good news in Lee’s first-ever policy address on October 19.
Writing on Facebook, Leung said a steady approach in the easing of the city’s border control measures is understandable, but it should not depend on the figure of local and imported infections but on the clinical status of the patients.
He explained that most confirmed patients in the city were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms and need not be treated in the hospital.
He also pointed out that coronavirus mutation is now common, and the trends in virology and epidemiology usually see a virus that mutates becoming weaker as it becomes more widespread.
Covid mutation should not be a problem as long as the vaccination rate is high enough with effective medication to treat the disease, Leung added.
Meanwhile, he noted there are signs showing the SAR government will soon roll out the “0+0” quarantine scheme, with authorities increasing the number of community testing centers across the city to allow arrivals to get tested for Covid easier.
The former HA chief believed the SAR government will still have to take into account many other factors before they make up their minds, but he looks forward to hearing the good news in Lee’s first-ever policy address on October 19.
