HONG KONG: Hong Kong is expected to report a record of around 610 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, broadcaster TVB reported, in the biggest test yet for the city's zero-COVID strategy as it grapples to contain a growing outbreak.
Around 300 others were found positive in preliminary tests, TVB said, citing an unnamed source.
The global financial hub, which is following mainland China's strategy of suppressing all coronavirus outbreaks as soon as possible, has seen cases soar since January with over 2,000 infections compared with just two in December.
The city recorded 342 cases on Sunday, slightly below the previous day's record of 351 cases. Dozens of bank branches including outlets of HSBC and Bank of China said they would suspend operations from Monday to help curb transmissions.
Health Secretary Sophia Chan said over the weekend that she expects cases to rise "exponentially".
The former British colony has become one of the most isolated cities in the world, with flights down around 90% due to strict coronavirus regulations and schools, playgrounds, gyms as well as most other venues shut. Restaurants close at 6 pm (1000 GMT), while most people, including the majority of civil servants, are working from home.
The economic and psychological tolls from the hardline approach are rapidly rising, with measures becoming more draconian than those first implemented in 2020.
Government quarantine facilities are also nearing their maximum as authorities struggle to keep up with their rigid contact tracing scheme.
Authorities hold daily briefings providing details on each infected person including where they went and ate. As cases surge however, methods including scouring credit card statements and transport records to identify close contacts are far tougher. There are likely hundreds of transmission chains in the community, they said.
In total, Hong Kong has recorded 213 COVID deaths and around 15,000 cases since early 2020, far less than other similar major cities.
REVERBERATIONS
Health experts said the city's current strategy of shutting itself off as the rest of the world shifts to living with coronavirus, is not sustainable.
Around 80% of the city's 7.5 million residents have had at least one COVID-19 jab but the majority of elderly remain unvaccinated, government figures show.
Out of these around 40% have received the Chinese-made Sinovac vaccine, believed to be far less effective against the disease than the one produced by Germany's BioNTech , the other vacine available in the city.
Infections have been recorded across government departments from hospitals and housing to the independent anti-corruption body.
Two pet cats tested positive for coronavirus, the government said on Friday, as it urged pet owners to avoid kissing animals. In January, authorities ordered a cull of more than 2,000 hamsters in dozens of pet shops, after tracing an outbreak to a worker in a shop where 11 hamsters tested positive.
The government has also tried to assuage worries over a shortage of food from the mainland after some cross-border truck drivers tested positive. Several drivers have been forced to isolate but overall fresh food supply “remained stable”, it said on Sunday.
There have been shotages of imported foreign food and cost increases due to tight air restrictions.
Reuters
Mon Feb 07 2022
![Hong Kong's zero-COVID strategy under pressure as cases soar Hong Kong's zero-COVID strategy under pressure as cases soar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-01/61643505223_HongKong.jpg)
Health Secretary Sophia Chan said over the weekend that she expects cases to rise "exponentially". - AP photo
Putin anggap rundingan dengan Ukraine tidak berguna
Presiden Rusia Vladimir Putin menyifatkan, tindakan Ukraine yang menyerang orang awam memperlihatkan keengganan Kyiv menyelesaikan konflik peperangan dua negara dengan cara perdamaian.
Fadillah tiba di Peru, hadiri mesyuarat menteri-menteri tenaga APEC 2024
Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof tiba Lima, Peru bagi menghadiri Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Tenaga (EMM) di bawah Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (APEC) yang berlangsung selama dua hari.
BNM denda Maybank RM4.32 juta, CIMB RM760,000 berikutan gangguan perkhidmatan berpanjangan
Bank Negara Malaysia mengenakan Penalti Monetari Pentadbiran (AMP) sebanyak RM4.32 juta ke atas Malayan Banking Bhd dan Maybank Islamic Bhd serta RM760,000 ke atas CIMB Bank Bhd dan CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd susulan gangguan beberapa perkhidmatan perbankan yang berpanjangan.
![Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723674988_pineapplesweetsme.jpg)
Pertubuhan kebajikan New Zealand mohon maaf edar gula-gula bercampur dadah Methamphetamine
Auckland City Mission secara tidak sengaja telah mengagihkan gula-gula bercampur Methamphetamine yang boleh membawa maut melalui pek makanan.
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza hadapi kekurangan mesin dialisis
Pesakit buah pinggang di Gaza menghadapi kekurangan peralatan dialisis dan bekalan perubatan yang teruk di Khan Younis.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas hilang kepercayaan A.S jadi pengantara gencatan senjata
Hamas hilang kepercayaan terhadap keupayaan Amerika Syarikat untuk menjadi pengantara gencatan senjata di Gaza.
Kekejaman zionis: Hamas tidak ambil bahagian rundingan gencatan senjata baharu
Hamas tidak akan mengambil bahagian dalam pusingan baharu rundingan gencatan senjata Gaza yang dijadualkan di Qatar, pada Khamis.
Malaysia kecam pencerobohan Israel ke atas Masjid Al-Aqsa
Wisma Putra dalam satu kenyataan pada Rabu berkata perbuatan keji ini yang dilakukan di bawah perlindungan pasukan keselamatan Israel, merupakan pencerobohan serius terhadap satu daripada tapak paling suci Islam.
![WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723675747_Mpoxvirus.jpg)
WHO isytihar mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Ini merupakan pengisytiharan kali kedua dalam tempoh dua tahun berikutan wabak yang bermula di Congo sudah merebak ke negara jiran.
![Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723674774_TayyipEMahmoudAbbas.jpg)
Turkiye akan terus tingkatkan tekanan ke atas Israel - Presiden Erdogan
Erdogan maklumkan kepada Presiden Mahmoud Abbas, Turkiye akan terus sokong perjuangan Palestin.
![Lawatan kerja Azalina ke Hong Kong berjaya teroka era baharu kerjasama Lawatan kerja Azalina ke Hong Kong berjaya teroka era baharu kerjasama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723203933_TBAzalina.jpg)
Lawatan kerja Azalina ke Hong Kong berjaya teroka era baharu kerjasama
Lawatan kerja Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said ke Hong Kong baru-baru ini berjaya meneroka era baharu kerjasama dalam sektor undang-undang.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![ARC 2024: Skuad Bunga Raya akur kehebatan Hong Kong ARC 2024: Skuad Bunga Raya akur kehebatan Hong Kong](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717844396_ragbi.jpg)
ARC 2024: Skuad Bunga Raya akur kehebatan Hong Kong
Skuad ragbi Bunga Raya 15 sebelah (15's) negara mengalami kekalahan besar buat kali kedua berturut-turut pada saingan ARC 2024 selepas tumbang kepada Hong Kong.
![14 aktivis Hong Kong disabitkan kesalahan bawah undang-undang keselamatan negara 14 aktivis Hong Kong disabitkan kesalahan bawah undang-undang keselamatan negara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/81717062126_HongKongandChines.jpg)
14 aktivis Hong Kong disabitkan kesalahan bawah undang-undang keselamatan negara
Empat belas tokoh pembangkang Hong Kong pada Khamis telah disabitkan kesalahan di bawah undang-undang keselamatan negara, lapor Agensi Berita Jerman (dpa) memetik laporan South China Morning Post.
![Piala Thomas: 'Kemenangan ke atas Hong Kong lonjak keyakinan' - Jun Hao Piala Thomas: 'Kemenangan ke atas Hong Kong lonjak keyakinan' - Jun Hao](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81714205905_pialathomas.jpg)
Piala Thomas: 'Kemenangan ke atas Hong Kong lonjak keyakinan' - Jun Hao
Kem perseorangan negara Piala Thomas 2024 berjaya membuktikan kemampuan mereka, sekurang-kurangnya selepas mengetepikan pemain Hong Kong dalam aksi pembukaan Kumpulan D hari ini.
![Piala Thomas: Leong Jun Hao lakar kebangkitan, pastikan kemenangan Malaysia! Piala Thomas: Leong Jun Hao lakar kebangkitan, pastikan kemenangan Malaysia!](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/71714189580_TBBAM.jpg)
Piala Thomas: Leong Jun Hao lakar kebangkitan, pastikan kemenangan Malaysia!
Leong Jun Hao melakar kebangkitan memastikan Malaysia memperoleh kemenangan ke atas wakil Hong Kong, Angus Ng Ka Long.
![Thomas Cup: Zii Jia ketepikan 'kegoyahan' kem perseorangan lelaki negara Thomas Cup: Zii Jia ketepikan 'kegoyahan' kem perseorangan lelaki negara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41714133165_LeeZiiJia.jpg)
Thomas Cup: Zii Jia ketepikan 'kegoyahan' kem perseorangan lelaki negara
Lee Zii Jia tidak mahu terlalu memikirkan situasi kem perseorangan negara yang kurang mantap menjelang aksi pembukaan Kumpulan D saingan Piala Thomas 2024 berdepan Hong Kong, esok.
!['Malaysia ada kelebihan di Piala Thomas' 'Malaysia ada kelebihan di Piala Thomas'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61713858166_TBSukma.jpg)
'Malaysia ada kelebihan di Piala Thomas'
Pemain profesional negara Cheam June Wei menyifatkan pasukan negara mempunyai kelebihan tersendiri pada pertarungan pusingan pertama bertemu Hong Kong pada kejohanan Piala Thomas 2024.
![Hong Kong tagih sentuhan pakar untuk Piala Thomas Hong Kong tagih sentuhan pakar untuk Piala Thomas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81713674821_PialaThomas.jpg)
Hong Kong tagih sentuhan pakar untuk Piala Thomas
Hong Kong, yang mempunyai bekas pemain antarabangsa Wong Choong Hann dan Choong Tan Fook dalam set kejurulatihan mereka, hanya membuat penampilan keenam mereka di pusingan akhir.