On Tuesday, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam defended herself from criticism, saying that she
attends news conferences with no mask to ensure that the audience could observe how
“solemn” she was when discussing the coronavirus outbreak.
A rise in locally transmitted infections caused by the localized transmission of the Omicron
and Delta COVID-19 variants this year has resulted in restrictions being imposed that have
made the financial center one of the least isolated large cities in the world.
Lam has been criticized via social media and specific health experts for not wearing a face
mask as she urged the population to observe the strict rules that her government has
enforced.
Lam told reporters that her decision to not wear a face mask for briefings for journalists
she said was “well thought out,” and she does wear a mask on other occasions.
“Now I am unfortunate, and I am very solemn because I am apprehensive. People need to
understand and feel my feelings,” Lam said at the media at a weekly press meeting.
“I’m not going to smile at you or look very relaxed or casual. This is a very solemn
occasion.”
Lam advised people to stay clear of gatherings and family reunions during the Lunar New
Year period at the beginning of February.
He also repeated that social restrictions are not likely to be eased in the coming months as
anticipated.
When the last moment that Hong Kong was subject to strict restrictions like this was in
2020, in the first few months of the pandemic.
Microbiologist Yuen Kwok-Yung, who is one of Lam’s COVID-19’s top advisors, who is
famous for his work in Hong Kong for wearing face masks that look like a duck’s beak was
reported in the local press on Monday for declaring “when we are experts or leaders, we
must set examples ourselves.”
Pubs, schools, and gyms were closed restaurants that closed after 6 p.m, and many
working from home.
Furthermore, only a few flights are permitted to land, and only a handful can travel.
Hong Kong has adopted a strategy similar to mainland China in that it aims to rapidly
smother any outbreak and stop residents who are infected from returning.
The global trend of governments has been toward “living with the virus.”
The week before, Hong Kong authorities enraged pet lovers by threatening to eliminate
around 2,000 hamsters following they traced the outbreak back to a worker at the shop
where 11 hamsters had tested positive.
