'Beefed-up Measures Still Not Enough To Fight Covid'

An infectious disease expert said the government needs to further beef up its infection-control measures even as tougher rules for those arriving in Hong Kong came into effect on Wednesday.

Among the latest measures are to require consular and diplomatic staff who have visited high-risk places to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival, and to bar visits to those under quarantine in their hotel rooms.

Still, Dr Leung Chi-chiu told RTHK's Millennium programme that there is a loophole in the city's epidemic-control measures, in which incoming passengers are allowed to take public transport to hotels of their choice to undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine.

He warned that the arrangement risks infecting hotel and transport staff and spreading the virus in the community.

"Whenever this case goes into the community, they will likely pass the infection to our transport workers, whether they are public-transport workers or those who're hired by companies or individuals," Leung said.

"And if they are quarantined in hotels disseminated in different parts of Hong Kong, it is extremely difficult to enforce close supervision. And it's also difficult to monitor the health of those hotel staff and transport workers involved."

He told RTHK's Candice Wong that the government should provide special transport for people arriving in Hong Kong, and allow them to undergo quarantine only at designated hotels.