HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) - Hong Kong's government stepped up its Covid-19 testing programme and advised against large family gatherings, days before landmark celebrations to mark 25 years of Chinese rule and a reported visit by President Xi Jinping.
Testing over the next few days will focus on high-risk districts where infections have broken out and coronavirus has been found in sewage samples, the government said in a statement.
Compulsory tests have already been ramped up in these areas in a bid to stop the virus from spreading.
Hong Kong has resisted tightening social curbs in recent months despite rising cases.
That has put the city's pandemic approach at odds with Mr Xi's flagship zero-Covid-19 policy. The ramping up of the testing programme comes before an anticipated two-day visit by Mr Xi for the anniversary festivities.
According to the South China Morning Post, Mr Xi will begin his trip to Hong Kong on June 30 before the 25-year celebrations on July 1.
Thousands of police officers will descend on the West Kowloon high-speed rail terminus, where Mr Xi and Chinese officials are due to arrive from Shenzhen, the newspaper said.
He will attend a banquet hosted by outgoing Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam at her official residence on Thursday, according to the Post. Mr Xi will not stay overnight in Hong Kong, said the report.
It will be Mr Xi's first visit to the city in five years, and his first outside China since January 2020, as his pandemic policy has largely closed China's borders.
Hong Kong’s increased testing comes as daily cases near 2,000 and amid concerns that the anniversary celebrations may increase transmission.
The Hong Kong government said the virus has recently showed up in sewage from Wan Chai, Sha Tin and Yau Tsim Mong districts, and residents have been given rapid testing kits.
The government will continue to give out free tests to those aged 60 and above, adding to the 11 million kits already distributed, it said.
The city will not conduct mass testing like neighbouring Macau, HK01 reported, citing incoming health chief Lo Chung Mau's discussions with politicians.
Mrs Lam had pledged in February that mandatory citywide testing – another hallmark of China’s virus strategy – would be deployed as infections surged, though it never came to pass.
Speculation is also mounting about whether the new government will loosen some of Hong Kong’s toughest virus curbs, with many residents hopeful that the authorities will focus on reopening international borders.
Dr Lo told local media outlet Commercial Radio last week that he aims to reduce mandatory hotel quarantine for inbound travellers to five days from the current seven days.
The new policy may see five days in a hotel followed by two days of home quarantine, Cable TV reported on Tuesday, without saying where it got the information.
