COVID-19: Hong Kong places residents under 48-hour lockdown, initiated testing

In a first, thousands of Hong Kong residents have been put under strict lockdown in a move curb spre of coronavirus. With over 9,929 coronavirus cases and 168 reported fatalities, city-state is battling both a health crisis and political crisis pertaining to imposition of National Security law. Earlier this week, it reported over 63 new COVID-19 cases in densely populated district of Yau Tsim Mong, marking its fourth outbreak since pandemic began.

Mandatory testing

new rules would come into effect on January 24 and would restrict thousands of people living Jordan, Kowloon Peninsula to ir homes. All residents would also be subjected to mandatory testing, which authorities aim to complete under time frame of 48 hours. Apart from this, ar area that has come under latest regulations is Sham Shui Po district, which is one of poorest districts in Hong Kong.

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"  Government has exercised power under Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" (declaration), by which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within specified "restricted area" in Jordan," a press release re. 

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According to Post, officials in Sham Shui Po isolated four tenement blocks in area last Friday, stopping people from entering or leaving those buildings to make sure all residents were quarantined. Both Jordan and Sham Shui Po house working-class population in older flats, which are often subdivided to accommodate more people. It is because of this that health official fears that infection could spre.

Hong Kong has previously avoided lockdowns in city during pandemic, with leer Carrie Lam stating in July last year that authorities will avoid taking such “extreme measures” unless it h or choice. According to Associated Press, restrictions, which were anunced at 4 a.m. in Hong Kong, are expected to end within 48 hours, government said. It appealed to employers to exercise discretion and avoid docking salary of employees who have been affected by restrictions and may t be able to go to work.

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(Im Credit: Associated Press)