Carrie Lam Insists Zero-case Lockdowns Are Helping

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Tuesday reiterated the government's claim that its "ambush-style" coronavirus lockdowns are useful even when no infections are found, insisting that residents confined to their homes welcome the moves.

Critics say with no Covid cases whatsoever found on multiple occasions, the surprise lockdowns are a waste of resources, with some medical experts also complaining that they can't see the scientific reason for carrying out the operations.

But before going into this week's Executive Council meeting, Lam said the effectiveness of the lockdowns should not be measured by the number of Covid cases found, as "prevention" is also very important in controlling the pandemic situation.

“To have achieved zero case, that is, all residents being tested within that period were negative is also a good sign,” she said.

“While you look at it, you may be worried from the public health or the building hygiene point of view about a particular area. But having gone through these tests, at least the residents are much more assured that they are not living in a highly infectious area.”

Lam added that authorities will continue to impose the lockdowns in a targeted manner, with about 1,000 residents to be confined to their homes and tested at any one time.

She said officials strive to carry out the tests quickly and limit the lockdowns to between 7pm and 7am the next day, so that people’s daily lives are not seriously affected.

“I hope residents will appreciate that we are already considerably reducing the impact on them. But as I said, this is a matter of joint efforts. It’s not just the government, but the community at large has to join hands in order to contain the spread of the virus.”