A few dozen aged residents, bundled up underneath blankets, have been pressured to attend on hospital beds outdoors the Caritas Medical Centre in Sham Shui Po, one of many metropolis’s poorest districts, on Wednesday. One other group of individuals, together with young children, sat in blue isolation tents throughout the street as they waited to be assessed by medical workers.
Whereas four-digit day by day case numbers pale compared to world friends, town had beforehand hospitalized all contaminated folks as a rule. That stored Hong Kong largely virus-free for the final two years, however this outbreak has led to 1000’s of mildly sick or asymptomatic folks thronging emergency items. The inflow has prompted coverage adjustments together with a plea from officers for these with Covid to remain residence except severely sick.
Well being authorities have mentioned they’re conscious of individuals ready outdoors hospitals and are searching for different amenities they’ll use. Town reported 4,285 new infections on Wednesday and there have been 16 sufferers in a vital situation.
There’s stress to maneuver quick, with a chilly entrance set to brush via Hong Kong over the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to fall to about 10 levels Celsius, or decrease in some elements, prompting considerations concerning the extra danger to the well being of weak residents pressured to attend outdoors.