Be prepared for a long Covid war, says Xia Baolong

A senior Beijing official who oversees Hong Kong affairs has told the SAR to beef up its effort in the fight against the Omicron outbreak.

Xia Baolong, the director of the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, was on Friday quoted by the China News Agency as saying that the SAR government has to strengthen coordination between departments, increase its capacity for the treatment of Covid patients, as well as to improve the distribution of supplies from the central government, among other things.

He was reportedly speaking in Beijing at a meeting to coordinate the central government’s assistance to Hong Kong.

The Beijing official also said SAR authorities have to deal with any activities that interfere with anti-epidemic work in accordance with the law and rebut smearing, saying any acts that undermine the city’s stability and its fight against the coronavirus should not be tolerated.

Xia was also quoted as saying that the SAR’s epidemic situation has to be more thoroughly analysed, noting cases remain at a high level and the situation is still “complicated”.

He said “people must not be impatient, and must not let down their guard”, and be prepared for a long war against the epidemic.