Estate Residents Open To Idea Of Covid Lockdown

Residents of a Kwai Chung public housing estate told RTHK on Tuesday that they would accept a lockdown of the area if the government ordered one in response to a cluster of coronavirus cases there.

More than a dozen residents of Block 8 at the Kwai Shing West Estate have tested positive for the virus in recent days, with most of them living on the same floor.

Chinese University medical expert David Hui has called on the government to consider sealing off the estate if further cases emerge in different blocks, and Chief Executive Carrie Lam says the government is preparing to change the law to allow places to be locked down until everyone is tested and the results are in.

A resident surnamed Chu said if a lockdown is what is required, she would accept it.

"If the estate has to be sealed off, it means it's a big deal. It means things are getting out of control," she said.

"It can't be helped, if the government says it would impose a lockdown at the estate... we have to accept it. We have fought the pandemic for more than a year now and it's still not resolved. It's a headache for the government and for us as well. We can't go anywhere."

A man surnamed Yeung, who also lives at the estate, said he would cooperate with the authorities no matter what decisions they came to.

Another resident, who didn't give his name, said the government should have ordered a lockdown at the estate earlier, adding that he had already stocked up on food and milk formula for his baby in case the family could not go out.

A man surnamed Wan, meanwhile, said mandatory tests should be conducted on the residents.

"Sealing off the estate is going too far. But I think it's the right thing to do to conduct [mandatory] tests for most people."