Government leaders in Hong Kong issued warnings about the city’s coronavirus curve on Sunday, encouraging residents to practice social distancing to the extent they can as COVID-19 case counts continue to rise.
“This wave of the epidemic has been the most severe in half a year,” Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung wrote in a blog post on Sunday. “The next two weeks will be very crucial. We must do our best to prevent the virus from spreading further in the community.”
Hong Kong’s government officials responded to rising cases and hospitalizations with a series of public health requirements and business restrictions in mid-July. Businesses across 12 industries were directed to halt operations again, and restaurants were no longer able to accept dine-in customers during evening hours. A face mask mandate originally applied to public transportation users earlier in the month was expanded to include all indoor public settings on July 22.
“In addition to the necessary measures that are being taken by the government, residents’ self-discipline and cooperation is also very important,” Cheung continued. “I earnestly urge people to stay at home as much as is practicable, reduce social contact and avoid dining out.”
Hong Kong health officials confirmed 128 new COVID-19 infections on Sunday, down slightly from the previous day’s figures. The city reported its highest daily increase in virus cases on Saturday, with 133 new diagnoses. Saturday’s record marked the fourth consecutive day of rising case statistics, each higher than those reported during the 24 hours prior. Hong Kong’s latest single-day data brought its overall case count to 2,634 as of Sunday, July 26.
The city’s official virus dashboard additionally confirmed 908 current hospitalizations related to the respiratory infection, noting that 73 patients were admitted between Saturday and Sunday, and 40 required critical care. Sunday’s hospital admission figure was up almost 50 percent compared to Saturday’s. No new deaths were reported. Hong Kong has confirmed 18 fatalities in total since the onset of the pandemic.
Hong Kong is one of numerous global regions where virus cases, and subsequent hospitalizations, started to trend upward at the beginning of June. The city’s outbreak resurgence is moderate compared to others, particularly those seen across the U.S. But the steady uptick in Hong Kong’s infections still prompted concern from health and government officials alike, given that its recent COVID-19 numbers are significantly higher than those recorded earlier this year.
Leaders have yet to impose a strict stay-at-home order for Hong Kong residents, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam said it is unlikely one will be effected in the future.
“We should take into account Hong Kong’s actual situation and unless there is really no other choice, we will not adopt such extreme measures,” Lam wrote in a statement released Saturday.
Cheung echoed that perspective in his most recent blog post, saying the government “has no intention to introduce a ‘stay-at-home order’ or a ‘foot-free order’ to restrict people from going out.”
Newsweek reached out to the chief secretary and chief executive’s offices for additional comments, but did not receive replies in time for publication.
