Territory’s ‘insane’ Covid zero plan backfires as cases surge even as tougher restrictions introduced

While the rest of the world is living with Covid, one place is trying to do the exact opposite with tough new restrictions. It’s not working.

Hong Kong saw more than 1000 new cases on Wednesday. Picture: iStock.

For most of the world it’s been a familiar story with Omicron, a Covid-19 variant apparently oblivious to national borders.

As cases have inexorably risen, restrictions – which did little to stop the jump in cases – have been lessened particularly in those nations where vaccination rates are high.

But one territory is stubbornly sticking to what it has called a “dynamic Covid zero” strategy. Yet, far from keeping cases numbers in check, new infections are now higher than they have ever been.

And there are now grumblings that the imposition of tough new restrictions is “insane” in the face of Omicron and locals are being effectively held “hostage”.

Hong Kong has a policy of zero Covid but cases are surging nonetheless. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

The government of Hong Kong has tried everything to keep Covid-19 at bay.

The territory which has increasingly lost it autonomy to Beijing opted to follow China’s strategy of aggressive eradication even if that meant closing its borders to a world that is slowly reopening.

The region’s 7.5 million residents are effectively barred from international travel. It has some of the world’s strictest quarantine regimes that can demand up to 21 days in isolation facilities. Last month it even took to culling hamsters due to a concern the pets were spreading the virus.

But the plan hasn’t worked.

Since Christmas, cases have skyrocketed. On Wednesday, 1161 new infections were reported. That’s more than 10 times higher than the peak in the largest previous outbreak back in July 2020.

It’s thought gatherings over Lunar New Year have helped to spread the virus.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has said she is “deeply sorry” for the current outbreak’s impacts while “confusion and anxiety,” reigns in the self-governing Chinese territory, the main local newspaper has stated.

Hong Kong saw more than 1000 new cases on Wednesday. Picture: iStock.

It’s all a far cry from mid-2021 when Hong Kong and Singapore were so confident in their Covid measures an international travel bubble between the two financial hubs was on the cards.

At the time Hong Kong was recording fewer than five cases per day and had stamped out minor outbreaks in 2020 and early 2021.

However Singapore then famously declared it wanted to “live with Covid”. Hong Kong, still wedded to Covid zero, popped the bubble before it even got going.

Lunar New Year (above in Hong Kong) may have led to spike in cases. (Photo by Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)

Hong Kong could see 30,000 cases per day in weeks

Hong Kong still has fewer cases than elsewhere. New South Wales, with only around half a million more people than Hong Kong, is recording round 10,000 cases per day. Deaths also remain a rarity in Hong Kong.

Case numbers and deaths might be low, but honorary assistant clinical professor at Hong Kong University Dr David Owens has said things could be about to get a lot worse.

“It’s only the beginning. I think the likeliest thing over the next few weeks is we’re going to see an increasing surge in cases,” he told the Voice of America.

“I anticipate a significant epidemic burning through Hong Kong over the next three to four months.”

One estimate has suggested Covid-zero Hong Kong could see 30,000 cases a day by the end of March.

Rattled, the government has doubled down on trying to stamp out Covid-19 with even tighter rules.

One of Hong Kong’s famous trams. New restrictions have been introduced in the city to try and dampen the spread of Omicron. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

Tough new restrictions

On Thursday public gatherings were limited to just two people. Hairdressers and religious venues have been forced to close.

“We are now facing the most dire situation,” Ms Lam said this week.

“We have seen a surge in the number of confirmed cases and some are worried the real number would be beyond thousands each day.”

But she didn’t shirk from her pursuit of “dynamic zero”.

“I would like to make it clear, people’s lives and health, and for the local medical system not to collapse, these are more in line with Hong Kong’s public interest.”

In a pattern seen elsewhere, including Australia, a surge in cases has led to a surge in testing which in turn has meant long queues and delayed results.

Ms Lam said she was “deeply sorry and anxious” at the long waits both to test and to then enter quarantine facilities, which Hong Kongers must do if they test positive.

People queue at a mobile specimen collection station for Covid-19 testing in Hong Kong’s Tung Chung district. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

New restrictions slammed as ‘insane’

Despite Beijing’s crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, there is growing and vocal anger at how Covid is being managed.

The South China Morning Post (SCMP) declared the new rules had “sparked confusion and anxiety” with older Hong Kongers distraught at not being able to meet friends, even outdoors.

A prominent Facebook group claimed locals were being held “hostage” by the government.

Journal The Diplomat spoke to 70-year-old Ken Wong who was waiting in line to get only his first Covid vaccination in a suburb of Hong Kong Island.

“This is insane,” he said.

“There is no way to reach zero cases. If we are going to achieve zero cases it would mean everyone’s wallet will become empty because a lot of people will be out of work and have no income.”

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam is under pressure due to the virus. (Photo by Daniel SUEN / AFP)

Danger for Hong Kong of surge

One of the issues the authorities have is Hong Kong’s relatively low vaccination rate.

Only around 65 per cent of all Hong Kongers are double jabbed. That compares to 80 per cent in Australia.

The very success in keeping Covid-19 at bay has led to a sluggish uptake of shots. A concern is that if Omicron were to surge the significant number of unvaxxed older residents would swamp hospitals.

The Beijing government has told Hong Kong that the border to mainland China will not be opened unless Covid zero is achieved and maintained.

But there are increasing calls for a change of tack in Hong Kong.

In an editorial, theSCMP newspaper said that Hong Kong could not “live with virus,” but there was neither the “infrastructure … nor political will” to impose measures such as suburb wide lockdowns seen in mainland China.

Professor of political science at Hong Kong Baptist University Jean-Pierre Cabestan told The Diplomat that authorities were now in a bind.

“The government is having difficulties adopting a new strategy which will both align with mainland China but also serve the interests and adapt to the situation in Hong Kong.

“Nothing can be decided without Beijing’s green light.”

The fear is Hong Kong could find itself in Covid limbo – locked out of China due to an inability to contain Omicron while also locking itself off from the rest of the world.

A lone omicron bubble all of its own.