15 percent of HK population already infected: expert

Government expert advisor David Hui said on Saturday that he believes around 15 percent of Hong Kong’s population have already been infected with Covid-19.

Speaking on a radio programme, Professor Hui said coronavirus cases in the city will certainly continue to rise, and experts have predicted that the epidemic will peak in the middle of this month.

He said infection numbers might then plateau for a while, so people will have to observe the situation.

“Many colleagues and friends of mine have tested positive through rapid tests, and are resting and isolating at home. So our case numbers will definitely rise, as these people haven’t been included in our infection figures,” Hui said.

“If you look at recent lockdowns at housing estates, often 10 to 20 percent of residents test positive. If we take a median, then maybe around 15 percent of the population has already been infected now.”

Hui also said it might not be feasible to put all severe Covid patients in one hospital.

Responding to suggestions given by senior National Health Commission official Liang Wannian, the Chinese University professor said many leading hospitals in different districts have already taken in a lot of severe Covid patients.

For instance, the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin only has two wards left in the department of medicine to handle non-Covid patients, Hui said.

He said hospital beds can be freed up if private hospitals can help treat non-Covid patients from public hospitals.

Speaking on the same show, government vaccine advisor Lau Yu-lung said health authorities should roll out its online system as soon as possible for people to report their positive self-test results, so experts don’t have to guess the actual infection figures.

He said around one-eighth of Hong Kong’s 80,000 elderly and disabled care home residents have already been infected, and elderly people have to be vaccinated as soon as possible.