'Border Reopening Won't Exacerbate HK Outbreak'

A University of Hong Kong (HKU) scholar said on Monday that he doesn't think the reopening of the border with the mainland will worsen the Covid outbreak here, arguing that the coronavirus has become endemic.

The government said quarantine-free travel with the mainland may begin as early as Sunday, with a quota on the number of travellers in place at first.

Visitors on both sides are also "advised" to take a PCR test before their trip.

Speaking on an RTHK programme, HKU virologist Jin Dongyan said he thinks the risks associated with the reopening are low, adding that it should take around a week for experts to observe the effects of the reopening on the public healthcare system.

He said HKU conducts around 10-thousand daily tests, and projects that up to 200-thousand people are infected each day across the city.

"Hong Kong should be confident about ourselves. After such a long period of time, Covid-19 has become an endemic," Jin said.

"We have a certain degree of buffer for infected people coming in from outside, there wouldn't be an outbreak once they come in."

The professor said requiring a negative PCR test before travel is beneficial for both sides, as it can stop infected people from travelling either ways.

Meanwhile, a care home representative said she agrees with the government's policy change of allowing infected residents with mild symptoms to stay at care homes.

Grace Li, who's also a member of the Elderly Commission, said most infected residents now only experience mild symptoms, as their vaccination rate have greatly increased over the past year.

She said allowing patients to stay at care homes can ease the pressure on the public healthcare system, but urged the government to offer more support.