Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam on Tuesday ruled out a citywide lockdown to fight COVID-19, but a surge of infections meant she could not "preclude" the possibility of postponing next month's chief executive election.
Lam, who has not confirmed whether she will seek another five-year term as head of the Chinese-ruled city, said her government's response to the outbreak had not been satisfactory, with hospitals and medical staff overwhelmed.
Daily infections have surged by about 20 times over the past two weeks. Health authorities reported 1,619 infections on Tuesday, a new daily record with around 5,400 preliminary positive cases.
"There are no plans for a widespread city lockdown," Lam told a news conference.
"We cannot surrender to the virus. This is not an option," she said, doubling down on her 'dynamic zero' coronavirus strategy, similar to mainland China which seeks to curb outbreaks as soon as they occur.
Asked whether Hong Kong's chief executive election, set for March 27, would go ahead, Lam said that the plans were unchanged, but given "the severity and speed of this latest wave" the situation would be continuously reviewed.
"So, I cannot preclude any possibilities at this moment," she said.
A committee of 1,500 members, all vetted by authorities for their "patriotism" and loyalty to Beijing, participate in electing the next leader. The chief executive election has never been postponed since the city's handover from Britain to China in 1997.
Two years ago, authorities cited the coronavirus to postpone legislative elections, in which some seats are assigned via public vote. Those elections were held in December 2021 under new "patriots only" rules imposed by Beijing.
Restrictions on social and public gatherings, imposed after the pandemic first struck, helped Hong Kong's authorities stifle a pro-democracy movement whose mass protests had rocked the city in 2019, and a national security law imposed by Beijing in June 2020 effectively ended the unrest.
Max capacity
Health authorities said several hospitals were operating at over 100% capacity. At Caritas Medical Center, located on the city's teeming Kowloon peninsula, dozens of patients lay in numbered beds outside the hospital. Makeshift tents had been set up alongside to treat the patients.
As infections multiplied, Lam said authorities were unable to keep pace with their testing and isolation mandate.
China has said it would help the city boost its testing, treatment and quarantine capacity, and secure resources from rapid antigen kits and protective gear to fresh vegetables.
Lam said the central government would deliver over 100 million testing kits to the territory.
Despite the latest surge, deaths remain far less than in similar-sized cities since the pandemic erupted two years ago.
Hong Kong's total caseload since the pandemic first erupted is around 26,000 infections, including a little over 200 deaths.
But, with the health care system already cracking, medical experts warn the city could see 28,000 daily infections by the end of March, and there were worries about the large numbers of elderly people who have hesitated to get vaccinated.
Anticipating the need for more isolation facilities, Lam said around 3,000 public housing units and around 10,000 hotel rooms would be converted.
Pandemic fatigue
For Hong Kong residents, the surge in cases comes amid rising pandemic fatigue. Strict restrictions have effectively sealed the city's borders for around two years and turned the once global hub into one of the world's most isolated major cities.
Venues from churches, pubs, schools and gyms remain shut, with public gatherings of more than two people banned. Dining in restaurants is not allowed after 6 p.m., while most people are working from home.
Hong Kong will introduce a vaccine pass starting February 24 where residents will have to show proof of vaccination before entering restaurants, supermarkets and shopping malls.
