Expert Expects More Pupils To Come Down With Covid

A leading microbiologist, Ho Pak-leung, said on Wednesday that he expects schoolchildren to eventually account for one in ten Covid-19 infections in Hong Kong, after the full resumption of in-person classes next month.

When some primary schools reopened on Tuesday, 14 pupils tested positive through rapid tests, and Ho said that fits his expectation.

The University of Hong Kong microbiologist said parents should not assume that children can only get infected through contact with their classmates, but interaction with other adults can also be a risk for transmission.

He said with 190,000 children between the age of three and 11 unvaccinated, the government should make use of the coming month to boost their vaccination rate.

"Daily Covid tests is not a long-term measure. I don't think it should be done over the long term - and these rapid tests cannot substitute for vaccination, anyway," he told an RTHK programme. 

The expert said an average of around 1,200 children are getting their first dose each day this month, and he thinks the number needs to go up to 10,000.

Meanwhile, a chief manager of the Hospital Authority, Sara Ho, called on schoolchildren who are unwell to visit designated Covid clinics, saying they are capable of dealing with 4,000 patients a day.

With the epidemic situation easing, she said there should be ample quota for pupils.