Commuters donning face masks queue for buses at a public transport interchange in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, July 22, 2020. (PARKER ZHENG/CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG — A local anti-epidemic alliance appealed for the city to seek assistance from mainland medical organizations and experts with the goal of launching large-scale virus testing of every resident.
READ MORE: CE appeals to public in virus fight as HK sees 106 new cases
The Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link, comprising various sectors in the city, on Wednesday, made the call in view of the recent drastic surge of COVID-19 cases in the special administrative region.
Under the current situation, residents’ health and anti-pandemic works should be the whole city’s priority.
Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link
Hong Kong recorded 118 new infections on Wednesday, the eighth consecutive day of a triple-digit count, pushing the total to 3,002. One-third of that total was recorded over the past eight days, after it took the city six months to record its first 2,000 infections.
In a statement, the group said the local medical system has been on the verge of collapse facing the drastic surge of daily infections.
The SAR government should ask the central government to send in a team of medical professionals and experts to support Hong Kong with conducting nucleic acid tests on every resident to cut off chains of transmission as early as possible, the group said.
In addition to the request for the central government’s help, the HKCACL suggested the HKSAR government introduce a total ban on public gatherings and postpone the upcoming Legislative Council election, which is scheduled for Sept 6.
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“Under the current situation, residents’ health and anti-pandemic works should be the whole city’s priority,” the statement reads.
Millions of voters, administrative employees, candidates and their campaign staffs are expected to gather around polling stations or on streets on election day. The postponement can reduce the risks of cross-infections caused by the election, the HKCACL said.
