Response to self-tests hotline calls for more effort in virus battle

That the government is racing against time to curb the worsening fifth wave is reflected in the mounting daily numbers of Covid-19 infections. Yesterday, the backlog of those awaiting treatment and isolation surged further after an online platform encouraging self-tested patients to come forward finally came into operation following a long delay. Given the limited facilities, prioritising resources for the most vulnerable remains key. Officials must critically assess trends and adjust relevant measures in a decisive and timely manner.

The 14,715 valid registrations on the platform in the first five hours speak for themselves. People are turning to rapid antigen test kits in an attempt to protect themselves as the exponential growth in infections brings the government to its knees. Despite officials eventually making an embarrassing U-turn to accept rapid test results as confirmed infections starting from February 25, the declaration platform was still not ready until Monday night. Such a delay does nothing for those fighting the deadly outbreak.

In line with infections identified through other channels, the number of registrations is not surprising. Officials are right in thinking that the recent fall in daily infections may just be a result of people opting to test themselves. A more complete picture will only come later, because those who tested positive before the platform roll-out have until mid-March to register. However, a true picture may never be available. Some patients and their family members may simply not bother to report infections to avoid isolation.

Just a day before the platform began operation, a new Fire Services Department hotline for those in need of treatment and isolation was flooded with thousands of calls. Whether the platform and the hotline overlap remains to be seen. But with just a fraction of the additional facilities being occupied initially, better coordination is needed to speed up the process. The priority must be to reach out to the vulnerable.

We trust Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor is well aware that the clock is ticking. When she warned a month ago that “the epidemic would not wait”, the fifth wave logged fewer than 200 cases a day. Today, the total number has surpassed half a million, with the daily figure recently hovering around 30,000 to 50,000. Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 2,365.

The calls for better use of mainland support and more decisive measures fall squarely on the shoulders of Lam. It is hard to imagine Beijing being pleased with the government’s performance in controlling the current pandemic. The new channel for those who have self-tested should give the Lam administration a greater sense of urgency to work harder.