Pandemic advisor sees no quick fall in Covid cases

Respiratory medicine expert David Hui says he doesn’t expect the current Covid wave to quickly subside, pointing out that it took at least six weeks for previous waves to return to low double-digit figures.

“If you look at the first four waves, it often took six to eight weeks for [daily totals in] triple or high double-digit figures to come down. It’s even more challenging now that we’re dealing with Omicron,” he said while speaking on a radio programme on Wednesday.

He said the virus might spread further in the community, as the Omicron variant was highly transmissible and there had recently been more infections without a clear source.

The Chinese University professor called on people to cut down on their social activities over the holiday, or meet up in small groups.

“It’s better to have small gatherings rather than get together in big groups,” he said.

“It definitely helps to have good ventilation. It can dilute the virus if unfortunately there is a virus carrier who is vaccinated and isn’t showing symptoms [among the gathering].”

Hui added that the first batch of Covid medication should be arriving in the city next month, saying he believed it would first be prescribed to elderly patients or those suffering from chronic diseases.

He said the medication could reduce the risk of serious illnesses, hospitalisation and death.