Hong Kong's Covid-19 fight intensifies as cases multiply by 60 times

Hong Kong's coronavirus battle intensified as authorities reported that new cases had multiplied by 60 times so far this month

Hong Kong’s coronavirus battle intensified on Thursday as authorities reported that new cases had multiplied by 60 times so far this month and media reported that testing would become compulsory for everyone in the global financial hub from March.

Hospitals are overwhelmed with some patients, including elderly ones, left lying on beds outside in chilly, sometimes rainy weather, in shocking scenes that prompted an apology from authorities in the Chinese-controlled city.

Schools, gyms, cinemas and most public venues are shut. Many office employees are working from home. But, many residents are fatigued by the harsh restrictions imposed to protect them against the pandemic, even as most other major cities in the world adjust to living with the virus.

Health authorities reported a record 6,116 confirmed cases on Thursday, up from 4,285 the previous day, with a further 6,300 preliminary positive cases. That takes the total since January to more than 16,600. They reported 24 new deaths.

The jump in cases is the biggest test yet of the city’s “dynamic zero Covid” policy, but leader Carrie Lam said this week that the city “cannot surrender to the virus.” Some media reports, citing unidentified sources, said the government planned to test up to 1 million people each day from March and those who failed to comply would be fined HK$10,000 ($1,282).

The government did not respond to a request for comment.

“Because of the severe number of cases we need to speed up admission to hospitals and community isolation facilities,” Undersecretary for Food and Health Chui Tak-yi told reporters.

Quarantine facilities had reached capacity and hospital beds were more than 90 per cent full, authorities said.

Yellen for World Bank fund to fight next pandemics

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged her counterparts from leading industrialised countries to support the establishment of a new World Bank fund intended to prevent and prepare for future global health crises. A new “financial intermediary fund” would help address gaps in preparedness, particularly among low-income countries, Yellen said. But the efforts to strengthen global health security will only succeed if the role of the World Health Organization is enhanced, the agency said. Agencies