CE 'sorry' About Long Wait For Testing, Quarantine

Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Wednesday that she is "deeply sorry and anxious" about the long wait people have to endure before they can get tested, or enter isolation facilities after they test positive for the virus.

Writing on her Facebook page, Lam said her administration, the Hospital Authority and testing contractors are all doing their best to boost their capabilities to deal with the coronavirus.

She said the daily tally of more than 1,100 Covid infections on Wednesday – which almost doubled the previous day's figure – shows just how infectious the Omicron variant is.

She added that the recent deaths of two elderly Covid patients, as well as infections emerging from more than 10 care homes, are the last things her government wants to see.

The city’s leader appealed to people to get vaccinated, stay home and avoid cross-family gatherings, saying public cooperation is most needed to combat Covid.

"I firmly believe that all people treasure our frontline medical staff, look forward to resuming their normal daily lives, and want to help Hong Kong ride out the pandemic," she wrote.