Today (February 14), Dr. Chuang Chuk-bun, Director of the Infectious Disease Division of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong SAR Government, announced 2,071 confirmed cases and approximately 4,500 preliminary positive cases! Both set new records since the outbreak in Hong Kong!
At the same time, the number of first-time visits to emergency departments in Hong Kong public hospitals remains high, with more than 4,000 visits on six days in February!
Yesterday, the Hospital Authority clearly stated that hospitals will give priority to severe cases and the elderly and young patients, and Hong Kong citizens who have tested positive may also have to wait longer before being arranged to enter isolation facilities.
But the good news is that with the support of the central government, the mainland will set up an anti-epidemic task force with Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, testing and isolation, and the "Fire Eye Laboratory" has also been restarted, which will further enhance Hong Kong's daily nucleic acid testing capacity with the assistance of mainland testing personnel. However, a Hong Kong nucleic acid testing contractor said that if Hong Kong wants to achieve "dynamic zero-COVID", it needs the mainland to send 1,000 people to assist with testing in Hong Kong.
Earlier, Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong SAR Government, said that the mainland's anti-epidemic experience gives Hong Kong confidence. He said that Hong Kong should "work together from the government, enterprises to the public, for a common goal."
Therefore, while mainland assistance to Hong Kong is important, the active response of the public and the responsibility of local enterprises at critical moments are equally crucial!
As early as February 4, Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, said that Hong Kong is purchasing rapid nucleic acid testing kits on a large scale, hoping to complete a citywide self-testing for COVID-19 without leaving home. However, procurement and distribution take time, and it is expected that completing this plan will take a while.
On February 14, a rapid antigen test product on an online mall in Hong Kong was priced at HK$3,750 for 25 units, i.e., HK$150 each.
During this waiting period, retail rapid test kits in Hong Kong have been snapped up, becoming another hot commodity after vegetables and nucleic acid testing queue numbers. Last week, a box was even speculated to as high as HK$280! Even now, readers have reported to us that prices at physical pharmacies and online malls are around HK$100-150, and they are often out of stock.
However, just as test kits were being snapped up, a Hong Kong company announced that it would give away 200,000 sets for free to Hong Kong citizens in need.
On February 10, New World Development announced that due to the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping across Hong Kong, citizens have a high demand for nucleic acid testing, and community testing centers have long waiting times. Therefore, the company decided to cooperate with Prenetics, a Hong Kong startup unicorn and genetic and diagnostic testing company, to donate 200,000 rapid antigen test kits.
Among them, six non-profit organizations will take the lead in recommending and selecting service targets and arranging distribution methods in late February, and then gradually distribute them to grassroots workers in need, reducing their financial burden of purchasing test kits and jointly fighting the fifth wave of the pandemic.
Adrian Cheng, CEO of New World Development, said: "The Group has always adhered to the concept of Creating Shared Value. In response to the changes in the pandemic over the past two years, the Group has launched measures to fight the pandemic together with the community, including pioneering self-service mask vending machines in 2020 to distribute masks to citizens in need, providing vaccination subsidies to grassroots citizens last year, and this cooperation with Prenetics not only alleviates the urgent need for rapid test kits in society but also reflects the social responsibility of Hong Kong startups. We also hope to provide rapid antigen test kits to grassroots citizens, so that they can worry less under the shadow of the virus and reduce their living burden."
Danny Yeung, CEO and founder of Prenetics, said: "We are well aware of the urgent need for rapid testing in the community. We are very pleased to cooperate with New World Development this time to donate rapid test kits to citizens in need. We are also working hard to increase the production of rapid test kits, striving to provide more than one million rapid test kits, including Circle HealthPod, to the community in the coming months to fight the pandemic together with the public."
Under the severe pandemic and shortage of medical resources, the faster the nucleic acid test result is obtained, the earlier treatment may be received. The 200,000 rapid antigen test kits donated by New World Development have been recognized by government departments in multiple countries. Testers only need to collect nasal swab samples with a swab stick and can get the result within 15 minutes. Even without symptoms, the sample can be tested for positivity, and children can use it with adult assistance.
Starting from late February, New World and Prenetics will gradually donate the first batch of rapid test kits to six non-profit organizations, including the Social Service Department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong, the Social Service Office of the Hong Kong Lutheran Church, the Hong Kong Community Organization Association, the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association, the Children's Cancer Foundation, and St. James' Settlement.
The relevant organizations will distribute the test kits as soon as possible in appropriate ways to service units in need, such as staff of elderly and care homes, and workers in industries requiring regular virus testing such as cleaning, security, and catering, as well as elderly living alone and people with chronic diseases, to ensure that grassroots citizens in need receive appropriate assistance.
At the same time, New World Development will not only distribute rapid antigen test kits to all employees but also provide two rapid antigen test kits per household free of charge to residents of its managed properties.
The pandemic has lasted for more than two years in Hong Kong. New World Development said it will continue to closely monitor the latest developments of the pandemic and launch support measures for community epidemic prevention in a timely manner, working together to fight the pandemic.
Reference sources: Hong Kong SAR Government Information Services, Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong SAR Government, New World Development, etc.
