Lockdowns End For Weary Kwai Chung Estate Residents

Extended lockdowns targeting buildings in the virus-stricken Kwai Chung Estate were all lifted as of Saturday morning, as residents of Ying Kwai House and Ha Kwai House were finally free to leave their blocks.

A few residents of Ying Kwai House, which had been under a week-long lockdown, had been asking to leave even before authorities removed cordons around the block, and at one point ended up in heated discussions with officers.

Others were clearly delighted that the lockdowns were ending, with one resident telling reporters that Hong Kong should adopt a “live with Covid” policy.

Despite the lifting of the extended lockdowns, one man who works in the construction industry said his company had already told him not to go back to work until after the Chinese New Year.

Residents were also given Lunar New Year goodie-bags containing festive treats as they left the buildings.

Health officials said they had found dozens of Covid cases during the extended lockdowns.

They said 13,526 people at Ying Kwai House were tested between January 22 and January 28, and 59 confirmed Covid cases were found. They said almost 800 households were visited.

A total of 16 cases were also found after authorities tested 9,660 people at Ha Kwai House between January 24 and January 28.

Health officials had extended lockdowns at Kwai Chung Estate after a surge in the number of Omicron cases, with patients from at least a dozen blocks in the public housing estate.

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