Review of anti-virus efforts necessary

March 20, 2022

Chief Executive Carrie Lam：

I would not readily accept that we are always lagging behind and not forward-looking. The extensive use of sewage testing is a very forward-looking measure.

So instead of waiting for residents to be infected (with COVID-19) and then identified and then isolated and treated on a very massive scale, we are surveilling the sewage of five million people for the last one and a half years.

It is costing quite a lot of money, I can tell you, but this is money well- spent in order to have a very good picture of Hong Kong’s virus situation.

I did acknowledge that, although I said on the February 22 that all the control measures that were put in place, whether it is border controls or social distancing, or the suspension of face-to-face learning or class education, will last until April 20 because nobody would imagine at that point in time that this very unprecedented fierce fifth wave (of the epidemic), will subside within a short period.

But having gone through a month and having gone through the peak that you have seen here, I think a responsible government should regularly and vigorously review these measures to see whether there is room for adjustment.

I would not promise now that there is room for adjustment, but following a review, we have the duty to account for the findings in this review and the direction that we will take.

So you will have to wait until probably tomorrow when I present the findings of our one-month review of the implementation of the various measures.

(To watch the full press conference with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Government is reviewing its measures to correspond with the ever-changing epidemic situation and such a review is a responsible move.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the statement at the daily press conference, saying the details of the review may be given tomorrow the earliest when the findings to review the anti-virus measures implemented late February will be presented.

“Although I said on the February 22 that all the control measures that were put in place, whether it is border controls or social distancing, or the suspension of face-to-face learning or class education, will last until April 20 because nobody would imagine at that point in time that this very unprecedented fierce fifth wave of the epidemic, will subside within a short period.”

“Having gone through a month and having gone through the peak that you have seen here, I think a responsible government should regularly and vigorously review these measures to see whether there is room for adjustment,” Mrs Lam said.

“I would not promise now that there is room for adjustment, but following a review, we have the duty to account for the findings in this review and the direction that we will take,” she added.

Today’s press conference also gave an update on the sewage surveillance as part of the city’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19.

The Government, in collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, has strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in the 18 districts to detect any positive results that may indicate possible hidden infections cases in the premises within certain areas.

The Chief Executive said the surveillance work is a proactive measure and the money spent on it is justified.

“Instead of waiting for residents to be infected and then identified and then isolated and treated on a very massive scale, we are surveilling the sewage of five million people for the last one and a half years.

“It is costing quite a lot of money, I can tell you, but this is money well- spent in order to have a very good picture of Hong Kong’s virus situation.”