Hong Kong daily COVID tally to hit yet another record - TVB (updated)

Henderson Land Development Co

19/02/2022 05:08

(Adds other details, background)
    HONG KONG, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Hong Kong health authorities
are expected to confirm at least 7,000 new COVID-19 cases on
Saturday, broadcaster TVB reported, setting a fresh record high
as the city braces for a long fight to bring a worsening
outbreak back under control.    
    City leader Carrie Lam said on Friday that it would take up
to three months to stabilise a surge in infections that has
overwhelmed health facilities and forced the postponement of an
upcoming leadership election.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UT0RI 
    The chief executive election, initially scheduled for March,
will be postponed to May, adding to uncertainty about the former
British colony's future as Beijing imposes its rule.
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UU012  
    The government is detailing plans for universal mandatory
city testing, Lam said, while ruling out a city-wide lockdown.
    Quarantine facilities have reached capacity and hospital
beds were more than 95% full as cases spiral, with some
patients, including elderly, left for prolonged periods this
week on beds outside in chilly, wet weather.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2US4IX
    Chinese President Xi Jinping, who backs a "dynamic
zero-COVID" strategy, has said fighting the virus was Hong
Kong's "over-riding mission".  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UT0MN
    TVB, citing an unidentified source, said Hong Kong was
expected to report at least 7,000 new daily COVID-19 infections
on Saturday versus Friday's 3,629, with an additional 7,000
preliminary positive cases compared with 7,600 the previous day.
    The city has recorded more than 40,000 infections and less
than 300 deaths since the pandemic started, far fewer than in
other major cities. However some epidemiologists expect daily
infections to approach 30,000 by the end of March.    
    On Friday, Lam said Hong Kong had identified more than
20,000 hotel rooms for quarantine accommodation, with property
developers piling in to show support. 
    Henderson Land  0012.HK  said it would provide rural land to
build a makeshift hospital, while New World Development
 0017.HK  said it would offer a major convention centre to serve
as a COVID-19 testing centre.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UT06D
    The first cargo ship carrying three tonnes of "choy sum", or
Chinese cabbage, arrived in Hong Kong early on Saturday from
Guangzhou, TVB reported, as mainland authorities try to restore
vegetable supplies to the city after recent shortages caused by
truck drivers testing positive.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UJ048

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ANALYSIS-Hong Kong's 'zero-COVID' success now worsens strains of
Omicron spike     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2UU025
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 (Reporting by Clare Jim and Twinnie Siu; Editing by William
Mallard)
 ((clare.jim@thomsonreuters.com))