Hong Kong rolled out a vaccine passport on Thursday that requires all people aged 12 and above to have at least one Covid-19 jab and also tightened restrictions in a city that already has some of the most stringent rules in the world.
Residents will have to show their vaccine record to access venues including supermarkets, malls and restaurants. They will also have to wear masks for all outdoor exercise and will not be allowed to remove masks to eat or drink on public transport.
On Wednesday, Hong Kong reported a record 8,674 new Covid-19 infections as the financial hub prepares for compulsory testing of its 7.4 million people – part of its “dynamic zero Covid” strategy similar to that of mainland China.
“Hong Kong is now facing a very dire epidemic situation which continues to deteriorate rapidly,” the government said in a statement on Thursday.
“Hong Kong’s healthcare system, manpower, anti-epidemic facilities and resources, etc, will soon be insufficient to handle the huge number of newly confirmed cases detected every day.”
The government on Wednesday facilitated the entry of health and security personnel from the mainland through an emergency regulation.
Authorities can “exempt certain persons or projects from all relevant statutory requirements in respect of licensing, registration and application” so it can draw on mainland “support and resources in a flexible and prompt manner to undertake key anti-epidemic projects at full speed when necessary”.
With bars, gyms and other businesses already closed and shopping malls deserted while many residents work from home, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that schools would break early for summer.
Other government measures have included drafting taxis in as ambulances to cope with the wave of infections.
Economic activity has plunged and tens of thousands of people have left the city, with some unlikely to return. Many remaining in the city are growing fatigued with the situation, as most other major cities learn to live with the virus.
Construction work has started on a facility to hold 10,000 community and isolation units, while private hospitals will take in patients from public hospitals.
With the city’s testing, treatment and isolation capacity already stretched to the maximum, University of Hong Kong researchers predicted new infections could peak at 180,000 a day next month.
- Reuters, with additional editing by George Russell
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