Despite a strict zero-Covid policy, the omicron variant of the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in Hong Kong. According to the authorities, infections reached a new high for the third day in a row on Tuesday with 625 cases.
Over a long period of time there were practically no infections in the seven million metropolis last year. However, that all changed in late December when two flight attendants who broke corona rules reportedly brought the virus in. The number of cases has increased rapidly in the past few days after the authorities were no longer able to trace the chains of infection.
Despite the rapidly growing number of infections, Prime Minister Carrie Lam confirmed on Tuesday that she wanted to stick to the “dynamic zero infection strategy”. The Hong Kong government had actually hoped that quarantine-free travel to mainland China would soon be possible again from Hong Kong, where a strict zero-corona policy is also being pursued.
Because of the new outbreak, however, the border is now likely to remain closed for the time being. Several major Chinese cities had also recently reported omicron infections.