Close Border Only If Covid Spreads Locally: Expert

Respiratory medicine expert Leung Chi-chiu says once quarantine-free travel resumes between Hong Kong and the mainland, it does not have to be suspended unless there are clear signs that there’s transmission of Covid-19 within the community.

The government had said it hopes to reopen the border with some Guangdong cities soon, and media reports have quoted sources saying borders will be closed again when local cases emerge in the SAR.

But Leung told an RTHK programme on Tuesday that if the patients are airport workers or quarantine hotel staff – who are tested for the coronavirus at very frequent intervals – the authorities may not have to close the border right away.

“If the tests are done frequently enough to detect the cases early, they may not lead to community transmission. We can wait and see if there are transmissions among their contacts or other places before deciding whether to suspend travel,” he said.

“If there are sporadic cases at these places, and one can detect them early and stop the transmission, it doesn’t mean there are signs of community transmission. But both places must come to the same understanding,” said Leung.