Hong Kong: Government takes extreme measures and citizens make purchases from dawn

Authorities report the closure of places where the capacity of people can generate chains of contagion.

Since December, the omicron variant has expanded in the city in an extreme way, causing an outbreak that led to a daily record of 1,161 new infections, in a population of 7.5 million inhabitants.

Hong Kong had a low infection rate, due to strict “COVID zero” restrictions, like the case in Beijing. Among the regulations were the measures of: social distancing, confinement in certain areas and the mandatory quarantine of international travelers.

On Tuesday, the authorities reported that due to this outbreak, the restrictions will be more demanding compared to those used at the beginning of the pandemic.

Gatherings in public spaces will be limited to just two people, and at home, to no more than two people. The presentation of the vaccination certificate will be mandatory when entering markets, restaurants and other sites.

After this announcement, the population had a panic reaction, which caused them to go out to supermarkets to buy food for fear that it would be scarce. In addition, they reported the closure of places of worship and hairdressers.

Users of the social network Twitter complain about the situation. A resident posted a letter that went viral. In it, he asks the government when they will decide to detain the people of the city as if they were hostages.

From Thursday, prevention measures will be tightened to curb the constant increase in positive cases.

The Hong Kong authorities decide to continue dealing with Covid-19, since they have a low rate of vaccination of the elderly population, compared to other governments that have already decided to stop using masks on some occasions.

Crisis in the establishments

Meal

In supermarkets and markets, carts full of food and empty shelves could be seen, as citizens went out to make purchases to stock up. These scenes recalled what was experienced at the beginning of the pandemic.

A 42-year-old woman declared that, given the situation, it seems that the government is not prepared, and that, therefore, they only have to worry about themselves.

The lady was shopping at the market since dawn, to be able to buy fresh products that are normally imported from mainland China.

A suspension of the food supply was experienced this week, due to the fact that a border trucker tested positive for Covid-19. For this reason, a third of the supply of vegetables fell, which caused prices to increase in the markets.

Hairdressing

One of the businesses that are most affected by the new restrictions will be hairdressers. In central Hong Kong, five locations already had their appointment schedules filled.

A client, while waiting for his turn, commented that the hairdressers say that it is a temporary closure, but with the new measures it is not really known when they will open. In addition, he assured that at this time they live as when the pandemic began.

In Hong Kong, the restriction in private spaces is the first time that it is taken into account. People who do not have the vaccines, as of February 24, will not be able to go to department stores, shopping centers, beauty salons and supermarkets.