Coming Days Crucial For Stemming Virus, Medics Warn

One of the government's advisers on the coronavirus pandemic is warning that Hong Kong risks a large-scale outbreak if the authorities aren't prepared to move quickly to tighten social distancing measures.

Gabriel Leung, the dean of the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine, says he's worried about an explosion in new infections, given the reproduction number over the past couple of days.

The number, known as the R-rate, reached 0.6 towards the end of last month, according to HKU's virus dashboard, and it has been predicted to rise above one, indicating an expansion of the disease.

Leung said it was for the government and the community to decide what kind of measures should be put in place.

The epidemiologist also stressed the importance of track and trace and said measures should be put in place to protect care homes, with residents and staff being tested for the virus once a week.

Meanwhile, in an interview with RTHK, Executive Council member and doctor Lam Ching-choi said the next week would be critical given that many people joined gatherings during the long holiday weekend.

He said there were signs of anti-epidemic fatigue, with people less willing to wear masks, even as chains of transmission with unknown sources continue to spread the disease.

He said he expected the government to move quickly to implement stricter social distancing measures if they prove necessary.

Hong Kong recorded nine new local coronavirus cases on Wednesday, as well as two imported cases. Three of the local cases had no clear source, reflecting an uptick in the number of mystery infections.

The unknown cases include a resident at a care home for disabled people in Kwai Chung. About 30 residents and staff have been put into quarantine.

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