During the beginning of the pandemic, Hong Kong led a good example of how to keep infection rates down while avoiding extreme lockdown measures. However, the third wave of coronavirus has arrived, teaching the rest of the world a few lessons on how lockdown affects both the pandemic and the economy.
The first cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong were recorded as early as January, were authorities acted quickly to control the spread of infection. By March, the second wave of the virus arrived as its borders were reopened for returning residents and students abroad, carrying infections with them.
The sudden spike of cases caused Hong Kong to have strict border controls and require travelers to take a coronavirus test and undergo two weeks of quarantine. They had even implemented electronic bracelets to track new arrivals, ensuring that they stayed home for 14 days.
The Third Wave
Joseph Peiris, Chair of Virology at the University of Hong Kong, expressed that the third wave of coronavirus is, "quite disappointing and frustrating because Hong Kong had really got things very much under control." Explaining the first weakness of the system, he said that most travelers opted to stay quarantined at home.
"There is a weakness there because other people in the home are not under any form of restriction, and will still be coming and going," said Professor Peiris. The second and greater weakness was that several groups of returnees were exempt from testing and quarantine.
Some 200,000 people such as aircrew, seafarers, and company executives were exempt from quarantine since their travel was necessary to the economy. Moreover, trading ports remained open since the city is highly dependent on mainland China's imports for food and essential goods.
READ ALSO: Hong Kong Has Not Had Any Local COVID-19 Cases Since Lifting Lockdown: Here's How They Did It
'Significant Loophole'
The significant loophole, as infectious disease specialist Dr. Joseph Tsang calls it, brought an increased risk of infection from, especially from seafarers and aircrew who traveled around the city. Since other countries also exempt certain travelers from strict border controls, Hong Kong's quarantine issues can happen to other nations as well.
The spike of infections and the third wave this month are also the result of physical distancing regulations being lifted. Professor Peiris explained, "as long as social distancing measures were in place the system could cope - but once measures were relaxed," travelers had spread infections rapidly. He said that it is a lesson for everyone.
"Many citizens were fatigued after months of social distancing, so when the government said things seemed fine and relaxed restrictions, they started meeting with friends and family," he said.
Even though Hongkongers were 'extremely compliant' and followed public health guidelines before the government made them compulsory, he is hopeful that the city will deal with the pandemic effectively in the following weeks.
For the rest of the world, it is a lesson of controlling travel as well as handling the virus within the country's borders. Professor Peiris added, "when you get to low levels of transmission within your population, having unregulated introductions from outside can lead to disaster." Since social distancing measures have been reinforced, Hong Kong might be able to go back to zero infections in less than two months.
READ ALSO: New York City Preparing for Second Coronavirus Wave, Warns Other States to be Ready as Well
