Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defends 'ambush lockdowns', says they were 'well worth'

After conducting surprise mandatory COVID-19 tests that uncovered no new cases, Hong Kong’s leer Carrie Lam on February 2 defended her ministration’s use of “ambush lockdown”. According to Bloomberg, Hong Kong government’s new tactic involves authorities giving no warning of an impending lockdown, sealing off buildings where cases are detected and n ensuring everyone inside is tested, usually overnight. On Monday, officials h cordoned off designated areas in four densely populated districts and conducted about 1,700 tests. However, authorities found zero new infections. 

As several citizens complained that new lockdown tactic hasn’t been effective, Lam defended government’s method and said that y were just one preventive measure among many. She said that one can’t really measure effectiveness of se operations by number of cases identified. Lam ded that “ambush lockdowns” were “not a waste of manpower and money but inste well worth”. She also said that efficacy does not only concern recovery rate but also prevention of disease. 

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HK threatens to knock down doors to force tests 

Amid a surge in coronavirus infections, Hong Kong’s government is taking a much more proactive approach to testing similar to tactics used on authoritarian mainland. On Tuesday, government even threatened to knock down doors of residents who don’t respond to authorities conducting mandatory-testing blitzes. officials said that government may take “legal action” including removing individuals or applying to a magistrate for a warrant to break into and forcefully enter a unit. 

Hong Kong has been attempting to curb fourth wave of coronavirus infections with targeted lockdown. Asian financial hub has seen authorities cordoning off an area and restricting movement until residents receive negative results. government has even suggested that some might be deliberately eving tests in areas that range from densely packed neighbourhoods to just a handful of buildings. 

Lam’s de facto deputy Maw Cheung has also said that officials would use “wider and more frequent” lockdowns as city is heing into Chinese New Year holidays next week. It is worth noting that Hong Kong was one of first places to be struck by coronavirus after China. city has recorded nearly 10,500 infections with about 170 deaths by imposing effective but economically ruinous social distancing measures for much of last year. 

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