Hong Kong News
Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Thursday, Dec 12, 2024
Real, Diverse, Unbiased.
HK unlikely to see outbreak after borders reopen, expert says
Border-reopening with the mainland will bring more infected Covid cases to Hong Kong, but a low chance for another outbreak said the University of Hong Kong's virologist Jin Dongyan.
In a radio programme on Monday, Jin expected that the number of commuters travelling between Hong Kong and China will be low in the short term after the border reopened, making it easy to control even more Covid-infected cases which may be brought.
It is unlikely that there will be another outbreak in the city given the vaccination rate and the level of controlling the epidemic, he added.
Jin also speculated that visitors from the mainland might mainly come to buy medicine and receive mRNA vaccines.
"The government should increase the number of vaccines it purchases and charge non-local residents who come to Hong Kong to get vaccine jabs," Jin said.
Chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu said earlier that the cross-border commuting between Hong Kong and China would be recovered by Mid-Januray next year.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has recorded more than 20,000 confirmed cases of Covid for three days from December 23.
It is unlikely that there will be another outbreak in the city given the vaccination rate and the level of controlling the epidemic, he added.
Jin also speculated that visitors from the mainland might mainly come to buy medicine and receive mRNA vaccines.
"The government should increase the number of vaccines it purchases and charge non-local residents who come to Hong Kong to get vaccine jabs," Jin said.
Chief executive John Lee Ka-chiu said earlier that the cross-border commuting between Hong Kong and China would be recovered by Mid-Januray next year.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong has recorded more than 20,000 confirmed cases of Covid for three days from December 23.
