Hong Kong won’t rule out lockdown over mass testing, says health chief

Hong Kong’s health chief on Monday said authorities have yet to rule out the possibility of lockdowns to accommodate a citywide testing scheme.

Health authorities had earlier announced a mass testing scheme for Covid will start in mid-March for its 7.4 million residents. Residents would need to test three times under the scheme with daily testing capacity reaching one million. Venues including school campuses could be used for testing and isolation.

Speaking on a radio program, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said in order for the mass testing to produce the best possible result, authorities will have to restrict and reduce the movement of people to ensure minimal social interactions between them.

When ask if authorities have considered a “total lockdown” - including the suspension of work and the stock market, she said authorities are assessing the situation daily on how to reduce the flow of people in the city.

The health chief also reiterated that citizens should make compromises and limit unnecessary travel.

Meanwhile, Chan said health authorities will step up its overnight lockdown operations ahead of the mass testing scheme, with an aim of locking down 10 buildings each day.

She said according to official estimation, the city’s current wave of infection has yet to peak, with multiple transmission chains spreading the coronavirus within communities.

She also revealed that a designated website for residents to register their positive rapid test results will roll out this week.