Give 'dynamic Zero' Strategy A Chance: Ex-CHP Head

A former controller of the Centre for Health Protection on Friday said now is not the time to discuss whether Hong Kong should "live with Covid", saying people should instead give the government's “dynamic zero” strategy a chance.

During an interview with the media, Thomas Tsang said with the number of daily infections surging to over a thousand – and many of the cases untraceable – the effectiveness of contact tracing has dwindled significantly and the focus now should be on reducing social activities.

When asked whether a complete lockdown of the city should be imposed, the expert said such a move should be considered a last resort because it would come with a hefty price.

"There's a price to pay. It will have a big impact on society, especially on underprivileged people... From the perspective of the World Health Organisation, a lockdown is the last resort. The key is execution, as it's a big move. How we execute it is a complicated matter. Personally, I am open to the idea. It really depends on whether we can execute it," the former health official said.

Despite calls on the government to consider adopting a “live with Covid” strategy – which many developed countries are doing – Tsang said there is no need for Hong Kong to abandon the “dynamic zero” policy yet.

"I think in reality the whole society should follow this goal and maximise its effect, in the hope of controlling the epidemic. Give ‘dynamic zero’ a chance to see whether it works or not. If in future, we see that the current strategy does not have its intended effect, then we can think about how to adjust it,” he said.

Tsang added that even for countries adopting the "living with the virus" strategy, it doesn't mean they are "lying flat", pointing out that they have also taken various measures to tackle Omicron infections.