As much the rest of the world learns to live with COVID-19, the highly infectious omicron variant has finally broken through Hong Kong’s once-lauded defenses.
ABC News' Britt Clennett explores how Hong Kong is being hit by the omicron variant after two years of low case numbers and deaths, and how the region is attempting to fight the surge., the highly infectious omicron variant has finally broken through Hong Kong’s once-lauded defenses.
China, which has exerted more direct control in the semi-autonomous territory since protests swept the city in 2019, has made it clear that Hong Kong authorities must do whatever it takes to contain the virus. China is the last major country relentlessly pursuing a"Zero COVID" policy.A temporary isolation facility to house COVID-19 patients in the Tsing Yi district of Hong Kong on March 8, 2022.
“Now there are a lot of elderly people trying to rush in and get vaccinated. But unfortunately, it's far too late, especially in the elderly homes. So unfortunately, there will be some casualties within this wave,” Professor Hung said.Patients in hospital beds wait in a temporary holding area outside Caritas Medical Centre in Hong Kong on March 2, 2022.
Local tycoon Allan Zeman has called Hong Kong home for 50 years. Under the current restrictions, Zeman’s famous Lan Kwai Fong district, where he is a major property developer, looks like a ghost town.Hong Kong’s hardline approach also appears to be fueling an exodus from the Asian financial hub. In February, a record of about 71,000 people departed Hong Kong for the month.
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