Hong Kong is now at or close to zero transmission of coronavirus, activist David Webb writes, charting a course for the city’s gradual opening up. At Webb-site-com, he says, “So our best estimate is that there has been no community transmission since (at latest) 3 April, and it has now been at least 24 days since the last community transmission within Hong Kong, not counting the airport.”
Mr Webb writes:
“Hong Kong citizens, unable to travel without a 14-day quarantine on return, should now be allowed to enjoy the safety and security that the quarantine and testing at our borders has brought them. It’s time to re-open all our public facilities, including but not limited to theme parks, cinemas, concert halls, libraries, museums, sports facilities, bars and restaurants, schools and universities without restrictions.”
Hong Kong can begin the process of negotiating bilateral quarantine-free travel with other countries that have reached sustained zero local transmission. He mentions Macau and soon Taiwan should qualify along with other countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Korea”.
Mr Webb warns Hong Kong should tread carefully to test inbound travellers from the mainland before lifting the quarantine against them when it is deemed safe to do so.
“We hope that bilateral travel with other clean countries will soon follow. But until a vaccine or effective treatment becomes available, we should not drop our quarantine on arrivals from infected countries, unless Hong Kong society is collectively willing to surrender to Covid-19 and accept the consequential death toll on the aged and infirm.”
Mr Webb’s article is important as the world grapples with the worst economic crisis for ninety years and should be widely shared, especially with Chief Executive Carrie Lam and her colleagues. Many sections of the community, bars, restaurants and retailers in particular, are expecting relaxation within Hong Kong from 9 May.
To see Mr Webb’s full article go to www.webb-site.com
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