Lam defends handling of pandemic based on trends and data

There is no crystal ball for Covid and the government can only rely on trends and data when rolling out anti-epidemic measures, says Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor after she was slammed for "mishandling" the fifth wave of outbreaks.

In her question-and-answer session in the Legislative Council yesterday, Election Committee sector lawmaker Junius Ho Kwan-yiu said he was "very furious" as the government "seriously mishandled the outbreaks."

On Monday the government said it is suspending the compulsory universal testing plan, saying it is best rolled out near the end of an outbreak and so now is not the time to do so.

Ho said although he agrees with the government's stance to not give up on the plan, he believed now is the right time to do citywide testing.

"We have already paid a huge price - we already lost some 6,000 lives in the fifth wave - but you are still telling me it is not time to roll out the compulsory universal testing," Ho told Lam.

He said the government is already getting students back for in-person classes from April 19 and lifting flight bans on April 21, measures which imply the fifth wave is nearing its end.

"The citywide testing should be rolled out mid-April," Ho said.

"On one hand, you are saying that we do not have the foundation to do citywide testing, but on the other you said you will not give it up. You are being very vague in your stance."

In response, Lam said her stance has never changed as she agreed that universal testing is an effective way to curb the spread of Covid, but "it is the timing that matters."

"It would be nice if we could have a crystal ball in our anti-epidemic efforts, but I am afraid we do not have one. We can only rely on scientific data and trends that we can get hold of to do our work," Lam said.

She added that experts from the mainland also advised her to roll out the citywide testing scheme either at the start or at the end of a wave.

"We are now stepping up our ability to ensure we have the capacity to roll out the compulsory universal testing, which includes sampling capacity, information technology capacity and capacity at isolation facilities," Lam said.

In her daily press briefing earlier, Lam explained that suspending the citywide testing does not mean giving it up, but finding a good time to do so.

"If the compulsory universal testing can lower the pandemic's impact on society and economic development and reopening of borders, the government will consider rolling out the plan," Lam said.

"But it is currently not time yet, as the number of daily infections remains high and Hong Kong's ability to fight the pandemic still has to be stepped up."

Lam also said in Legco that the government has procured a "very sufficient" amount of Covid oral drugs from two manufacturers -MSD and Pfizer.

"I have personally contacted the two companies and they are also willing to support Hong Kong as they also see the high death rate among elders due to the coronavirus," Lam said.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com