'5th Wave' Hong Kong Says "Need Help from Mainland China Doctors and Nurses"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Hospital authorities in Hong Kong, responding to the 5th wave of the COVID-19 virus spread, have stated that they need assistance from doctors and nurses from mainland China.

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported this by citing remarks from Henry Fan Hung-ling, Chairman of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, in an interview with China's state media CCTV. He said, "We hope the central government will help strengthen the medical staff," adding, "Otherwise, even if there are new facilities managed by the hospital authorities, there will be no personnel to deploy."

When the program host asked, "Does this mean requesting doctors and nurses from the mainland to be sent to Hong Kong for assistance?" he replied, "Yes, that is what it means."

Since last month, the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases in Hong Kong has surged sharply, and public hospitals have already reached their capacity limits. Some elderly patients had to wait for a long time in the cold to be admitted to hospitals, and Hong Kong had to acknowledge that it was also in a state of saturation.

As of the 21st, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong was 7,533, with the cumulative confirmed cases since the 2020 pandemic reaching 60,363.

A delegation of mainland medical experts is currently meeting with senior officials in Hong Kong, and other staff have also arrived to help strengthen testing capabilities and build temporary hospitals.

Direct assistance from doctors and nurses in Hong Kong is also expected to address the legal barriers in China that prevent medical practice in other cities without a license.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.