![[En continu] Chaos in Hong Kong as mass screening approaches](https://assets.letemps.ch/sites/default/files/styles/share/public/media/2022/03/02/e8ee2c2_20220302074840947.jpg.jpeg?itok=OPnYBXON "[En continu] Chaos in Hong Kong as mass screening approaches")
The essential
In Swiss, the number of new cases has increased. The country has 23,684 on Wednesday
additional cases of coronavirus in 24 hours, according to figures from the FOPH, compared to 18,423 seven days ago, an increase of 28,6%.
The British government on Tuesday waived introduce compulsory vaccination scheduled for early April in England for caregivers in the public health service.
find our follow-up of the day of Tuesday.
■ Switzerland has 23,684 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours
Switzerland counts on Wednesday 23,684 additional cases of coronavirus in 24 hours, an increase of almost 30% in one week, according to figures from the FOPH. We deplore 10 additional deaths and 150 patients were hospitalized.
Seven days ago, the Federal Office of Public Health (OFSP) announced 18,423 cases. On the same day, he counted 15 deaths and 174 additional hospitalizations. In one week, the number of new cases has increased by 28.6%. At the same time, hospitalizations fell by 13.8%. 626 people are currently in intensive care. Covid-19 patients occupy 16.8% of the places available in intensive care, whose occupancy rate is 73.6%.
■ Chaotic situation in Hong Kong
Overwhelmed hospitals, empty supermarkets, grim quarantine camps: chaos has gripped Hong Kong, which is facing its strongest wave of coronavirus, with tens of thousands of cases every day, and is preparing to screen its 7.4 million inhabitants three times in March.
China remains determined to eradicate all cases according to the principles of its “zero covid” strategy and has ordered Hong Kong to do the same.
For the past few weeks, hospitals have been saturated and the images of dozens of Covid patients piled up on stretchers in the open air in front of the emergency services have shocked Hong Kongers. Morgues are full and thousands of asymptomatic patients are herded into isolation camps and separated from their loved ones.
The possibility of a possible confinement of the whole city has prompted residents to rush to supermarkets to stock up, causing shortages.
The fate of those who will test positive is an unknown. In the coming weeks, nearly 70,000 isolation places are to be created for cases with few or no symptoms, in requisitioned hotels, public housing or prefab camps built with help from Beijing. But this figure barely covers two days of new infections, according to current statistics.
■ The United States advises to avoid Hong Kong
The United States has recommended that its nationals avoid Hong Kong due to the drastic measures applied in the city to fight against Covid-19. “In some cases, children who tested positive in Hong Kong were separated from their parents and kept in solitary confinement,” said a statement from the State Department released by the American consulate in Hong Kong.
🚨Travel Advisory Updates for HK: Level 4 Do Not Travel (March 1, 2022)
U.S. citizens should not travel to HK due to COVID-19 and related restrictions. The Department of State has no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. https://t.co/3FBkjzGxaS pic.twitter.com/RhhjReWnhy— US Con HK & Macau (@USAinHKMacau) 2 mars 2022
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■ “Covid-19 should no longer rule our lives”, says Joe Biden
In his Union address on Tuesday evening, United States President Joe Biden addressed Covid-19. He felt that the pandemic “must no longer rule our lives”, at a time when wearing a mask is now optional in most parts of the country.
“We will continue to fight against this virus as we do for other diseases,” he said, adding that “we must remain cautious” according to the mutations and spreads of the virus.
On the subject: Less restrictions in France, relaxation in the United States: the news of February 26
■ Australian prime minister positive for Covid-19
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Tuesday that he was positive for Covid-19 and was isolating himself at home. He said he had flu-like symptoms after a positive PCR test on Tuesday.
“In isolation, I will continue to exercise all my responsibilities as Prime Minister”, he assured in a press release, explaining that he was working on the response to be given to the deadly floods in the states of Queensland and New South Wales.
■ New Zealand police attempt to evacuate anti-vax camp
Riot police used pepper spray at dawn on Wednesday against demonstrators gathered outside the New Zealand parliament in Wellington to end the camp set up against health restrictions, in the wake of convoys against the vaccine pass in Canada.
Ending a strategy of non-intervention, hundreds of police advanced towards the protesters shouting “Move! Move!”, dismantling the tents and starting to transfer cars and vans onto trucks. Police reported a few people armed with pitchforks, but said they had “gained a lot of ground” during the operation, which continued Wednesday afternoon. Commissioner Andrew Coster reported three wounded in his ranks and 36 arrests.
Wellington residents have complained of being attacked by protesters for wearing masks, when schools and businesses near the camp were closed for security reasons. The police also reported poor sanitary conditions in the camp, which became a hotbed of Covid-19.
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