Government officials clean the streets in the Jordan area on January 25.
Photographer: Chan Long Hei / Bloomberg
Photographer: Chan Long Hei / Bloomberg
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Hong Kong has signaled more blockades in the future after considering its first move, imposed on an area of Kowloon over the weekend, successfully detecting 13 new cases.
The blockade, which affected 10,000 people, was in effect for two days in the Yau Ma Tei and Jordan areas of Kowloon, where about 7,000 residents were tested.
The order was effective in identifying infected patients and isolating them and their close contacts quickly, Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan told a news conference on Sunday. “If there is such a need, we obviously do not rule out the possibility of any future operation like this,” she said.
The unprecedented operation was announced early on Saturday, before it went into effect, and involved more than 3,000 government officials from 16 departments. Residents were not allowed to leave the area until the test was completed, although those with a negative test result could leave on Sunday night.
Early media reports of a more severe blockade were published on Friday, taking the Hang Seng Index down 1.6%, its biggest drop in almost two months. The South China Morning Post said the change would impact tens of thousands of people and include parts of Sham Shui Po, but later reduced its report.
The move is a detour to a city that resisted a more aggressive stance at the beginning of the pandemic, although it is still small compared to the blockades adopted in mainland China, where people are sometimes prohibited from leaving cities, neighborhoods or even their apartment sets.
A resident leaves the containment area in Jordan, with a negative Covid-19 test on January 24.
Photographer: Chan Long Hei / Bloomberg
A government statement issued on Monday morning expressed hope that “this temporary inconvenience will completely cut the local transmission chains in the district and alleviate residents’ concerns and fear”.
From January 1 to 20, a total of 162 positive cases were recorded in the blockade area, involving 56 buildings, the statement said.
“The government will use this restriction with a mandatory trial order when needed,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at a news conference on Saturday. The authorities will improve the way they communicate about these plans, including the timing of the announcements, Lam said, adding that he would not rule out that the action be taken again.