By ZHANG Xilong

Hong Kong’s healthcare system is seeing over 20,000 Covid infections and 4,000 hospitalizations every day. Six of the seven government telemedicine clinics are out of appointments. Hospital bed occupancy is at 112 percent. 

The surge has come at an inopportune time as private hospitals are on the Christmas holiday schedule. The hospital authority is trying to alleviate the pressure on public hospitals by providing them with more trained workers, adding more beds, and expediting paperwork. Some sports halls have been converted into temporary Covid hospitals. Private hospital workers are being offered overtime pay if they come back to work early. 

Hong Kong Chief executive John Lee said on December 24 that the border with China will fully reopen by mid-January. 

Given China’s current wave of Covid infections, the reopening is likely to put even more strain on Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The government has made preparation for everything including quarantine, treatment, medication and protective equipment.

Pain and fever medicines are already running low as residents buy them up to send to friends and families in the mainland. Hong Kong General Chamber of Pharmacy, a trade association, said the supply will be replenished within two weeks.

Epidemiologists generally believe the outbreak will be manageable after reopening, since residents already have some level of immunity from previous outbreaks. 

Leung Chi Chiu, a pulmonologist, said the government should monitor cases, deaths and hospital visits in the first few weeks, and adjust these measures accordingly. Mild and acute cases should be treated in separate facilities. Nursing homes should be given extra attention.