Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee speaks to the media after visiting a COVID-19 vaccination center in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong on Feb 26, 2021. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong must maintain strict social distancing measures to cut transmission chains as the fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is still “hovering on the plateau”, said Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee.

Although the city’s daily infections have started falling from their peak, there’re still many transmission chains in communities. If residents let their guard down, cases may rebound at any time, she told China News Service in a recent interview.

Chan said efforts to fight the pandemic should not merely rely on measures taken by the government. She said residents should avoid crowds and gatherings to protect their health.

Secretary for Health Sophia Chan said efforts to fight the pandemic should not merely rely on measures taken by the government. She said residents should avoid crowds and gatherings to protect their health

Hong Kong reported 14,149 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday — down from 16,597 the previous day and Sunday’s more than 20,000 infections.

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Chan said the HKSAR government will continue to implement the Multi-Tiered Triage and Treatment strategy and prioritize treatment for the elderly to reduce serious cases and deaths.

The strategy classified COVID patients into five tiers, based on their health conditions. Those in a serious condition will be sent to hospitals and designated treatment facilities, while those with mild symptoms will be admitted to community isolation facilities or self-isolate at home.

Chan added that cooperation between public and private hospitals has seen a breakthrough. So far, 13 private hospitals have agreed to provide 1,000 beds to treat COVID patients to relieve the pressure on public hospitals. As of March 16, about 190 patients had been transferred to private hospitals through the government’s low-charge beds and Public Private Partnership Program.

The government has also set up an online platform to recruit healthcare professionals, with more than 400 professionals having applied to join various anti-pandemic projects since March 16.

Chan said she’s grateful to more than 300 Chinese mainland medical workers who have come to Hong Kong to support the fight against the pandemic.

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The Hospital Authority will have “all-round” collaboration with the mainland teams. The team members will provide treatment for COVID-19 patients at AsiaWorld-Expo, work closely with Hong Kong medical workers in clinical care, rehabilitation of confirmed patients and in strengthening the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in COVID treatment.