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Transcript/Script EnglishFOR USAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: Hong Kong Covid Crisis (TV)
HEADLINE: Hong Kong Announces Tougher Health Measures Amid Record Breaking COVID-19 Cases
TEASER: Feelings mixed among Hong Kong residents about tougher Covid policies and its zero Covid strategy
PUBLISHED AT: 02/24/2022 at 9:10am
BYLINE: VOA News (REPORTER TO REMAIN UNNAMED)
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Hong Kong
VIDEOGRAPHER: VOA
PRODUCER: VOA
SCRIPT EDITORS: ELee, BR
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 3:02
VID APPROVED BY: mia
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: There is a companion web article with this TV pkg))
((INTRO: ))
[[While other parts of the world have started opening up, Hong Kong is experiencing unprecedented COVID-19 caseloads, with records breaking daily. Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced mandatory citywide testing as the city tries to achieve a “dynamic zero COVID” policy in line with mainland China’s approach. VOA’s Elizabeth Lee narrates this report from Hong Kong.]]
((NARRATOR))
Hong Kong has been struggling to contain the spread of Covid-19, even as many parts of the world are returning to normalcy.
[[For Radio: Hong Kong resident Packie Mak has been living through this crisis.]]
((Packie Mak, Hong Kong Resident)) ((in Cantonese)) ((Female))
“It's ridiculous. It feels like we’re in the third world. I never thought something like this would happen to an international financial hub.”
((NARRATOR))
For more than six months, Hong Kong saw zero imported COVID-19 cases. But since the Lunar New Year, the highly transmissible omicron variant has led to an exponential growth in the caseload with clusters developing throughout the city.
[[FOR RADIO: Hong Kong resident, Ken Wong]]
((Ken Wong, Hong Kong Resident)) ((in Cantonese))
“I think the biggest issue here is that they didn’t do well in their preventive measures. They didn’t close the borders and now all these cases have come through.”
((NARRATOR))
Hong Kong’s chief executive, Carrie Lam, announced this week tougher measures to stop the spread.
((Carrie Lam, Hong Kong Leader)) ((In Cantonese)) ((Female))
“We will implement compulsory universal testing or in English, C-U-T, within three months, in order to cut off this transmission chain.”
((NARRATOR))
The Hong Kong Security Bureau has also set up a new anti-epidemic police task force to prepare for mandatory testing for the entire city. Hong Kong aims to follow Beijing’s approach by implementing a “dynamic zero COVID-19 infection strategy”. There are designated clinics to take in COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms to ease the strain in public hospitals, having reached maximum capacity.
The Hong Kong government is also looking to build makeshift hospitals for COVID-19 patients.
But some residents say the measures will not be enough.
[[FOR RADIO: Resident Jeremy Chan supports tougher measures but he’s doubtful Covid can be contained.]]
((Jeremy Chan, Hong Kong Resident)) ((in Cantonese)) ((Male))
“I think there is a need to strengthen the preventive measures and increase citizens’ awareness, but I don’t think we can achieve zero COVID-19 because we live in such a densely populated environment. And so unlike on the mainland where they have much more space to carry out those measures such as quarantine.”
((NARRATOR))
The government has introduced a vaccine pass, which will require citizens to provide their vaccination records before entering designated venues, such as shopping malls and wet markets. But not everyone in Hong Kong supports tougher COVID prevention policies.
[[FOR RADIO: Resident, Veronica Kong]]
((Veronica Kong, Hong Kong Resident)) ((Female)) (in Cantonese)
“I don’t support the government in introducing stricter measures because we have our freedom and rights. Even forcing us to take vaccines is already not quite acceptable.”
Family practice doctor David Owens says it’s unrealistic at this stage to completely eliminate COVID from Hong Kong.
((Dr. David Owens, Hong Kong Family Practice Doctor))
“We are mostly going be infected. Most of the people in Hong Kong are going to be infected in the next three months. So really what we have to do over the next two months is to focus on minimizing the harm to the health system.”
((NARRATOR))
Health authorities have started offering the Chinese Sinovac vaccine to children as young as 3 years old.
Hong Kong currently has a vaccination rate of over 76%, but only about 20% of those aged 3-11 have received their first shot.
((Elizabeth Lee, VOA News))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateFebruary 24, 2022 09:20 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
