COVID19 Strategy at the Crossroads: Hong Kong and worldwide

COVID-19 is not only the most savage health crisis in a century, but also poses a devastating threat to the global economy. Two years after the outbreak, there is still no consensus about the optimal solution to the pandemic. Nevertheless, some societies in Asia and Oceania have apparently performed better than other places in controlling the disease. Recently,mass vaccination programs are launched successfully in several countries, andthey have tended to adopt “co-existence" rather than “zero-tolerance” as an exit strategy. On 15 January 2022, Prof. Anthony CHEUNG, Prof. FUNG, and Prof. WU offered policy suggestions by comparing performances of anti-COVID strategies between Hong Kong and the rest of the world.

Prof. CHEUNG commented that shutting down saves lives but is costly while staying open maintains normal life but is risky. In many societies, whether choosing “co-existing” or “zero-tolerance” as an anti-COVID strategy, there is still an ongoing debate and making the right choice of strategy can be difficult because implementing the best solution depends on changing circumstances. He pointed out that this health crisis revealed the importance of crisis management and leadership of governments. Regardless of political structures, a competent state machinery, a trusted government, and effective leadership are necessary components for a successful anti-COVID strategy. In terms of infection and death cases, Hong Kong performs better than the rest of the world. However, he argued that public trust is insufficient in Hong Kong. Therefore, the government should improve crisis leadership and communication.

Prof. FUNG first suggested that COVID-19 is not only a pandemic but also a syndemic because it involves both biological and social interaction. Ethnic minorities, migrant workers, poor, elderly, and chronically ill people are groups suffering the most. From a health care perspective, he urged for more investment in public health, financial and social assistance for vulnerable groups, timely decision making with a “whole of government” approach, and better global cooperation. Besides enhancing the vaccination rate, he recommended the “Swiss Chess Pandemic Defense” strategy where multiple layers of personal and social efforts are required since each intervention (layer) has imperfections (holes). Last but not the least, he expected that digitalization is necessary to make the health care system more flexible and agile.

Professor WU first indicated that seeking the reopening of mainland borders and removing travel bans to all non-residents as well as the easing of quarantine requirements are difficult measures to be achieved simultaneously. Due to differences in political systems, institutional cultures, implementation capacities, and levels of global linkages between mainland China and Hong Kong, removing travel bans on all non-residents might be a more realistic goal. He suggested that Hong Kong should draw lessons from Singapore. Singapore accomplished high vaccination rates across different groups by fighting fake news, persuading the elderly, making vaccines widely accessible and imposing restriction on unvaccinated people. Therefore, it can shift toward a more balanced “co-existence” strategy with fewer travel restrictions. Nevertheless, he remarked that social distancing is still being implemented in Singapore. Lastly, he emphasized that keys to re-opening Hong Kong are building public support, overcoming vaccine hesitancy, making tracing apps mandatory, imposing social distancing, and strengthening healthcare facilities.