Chinese medical chief calls for relaxation of anti-virus measures in Hong Kong
Zhong Nanshan, head of China's expert medical team appointed to fight the coronavirus, praised the epidemic prevention measures taken in Hong Kong and urged authorities to relax restrictions on the border with mainland China, a report said on Monday. local environment.
In an interview with the South China Morning Post, the expert praised the financial city's efforts to contain COVID-19 and called for more cooperation between the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities to allow travel between the two sides without the need to make a mandatory quarantine.
"Hong Kong has done it wonderfully this time, completely different from how it did 17 years ago during the SARS epidemic," said the prestigious 83-year-old Chinese pulmonologist, who played a leading role in fighting the disease in 2003, which was specially fattened with the British ex-colony.
Zhong said the authorities "should take the step" and establish a mobile health code system that is recognized on both sides.
He added that at this time, "it is not essential" for a person to be isolated in Hong Kong for 14 days given that "the city faces great economic problems."
Hong Kong has not counted new coronavirus cases for more than ten days, and 32 active patients remain in the city, out of the 1,065 total cases detected since the start of the pandemic, of which four have died.
Meanwhile, the head of the local Hong Kong Executive, Carrie Lam, announced today at a press conference that the city will relax part of the social distancing measures adopted to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Thus, karaokes or nightclubs will join other already open spaces - such as gyms and beauty salons - and will be able to resume operations from this Friday, according to the Chinese state agency Xinhua.
Flight transfer services from Hong Kong International Airport will also resume, while the city's schools will be able to gradually open from Wednesday.
On the other hand, Lam reiterated today his support for the national security law for Hong Kong that the Peking Government plans to approve this week and assured that the freedoms of the Hong Kong people are not in danger.
The Hong Kong Police detained at least 180 people this Sunday during a protest against the new law, which will prohibit "any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion" against the central government, in addition to "theft of state secrets and the organization of activities in Hong Kong by foreign political organizations. "
It is currently being debated in the Chinese National People's Congress (ANP) and is expected to be approved before its conclusion on Thursday.
Several civil organizations have condemned the measure that Beijing plans considering that it will limit the freedoms of the Hong Kong people.
