According to an updated estimation from a study led by Professor Gabriel Leung, Dean of HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine (HKUMed) and Chief Scientific Officer of the Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health, the fifth wave of COVID-19 in Hong Kong is expected to peak in the coming week [in early March] or so, at 182,738 new daily infections or 35,121 newly reported cases per day.

The latest mathematics modeling also found that there have been about 1.7 million people already infected with COVID-19 as of 28 February since the beginning of the fifth wave. The HKUMed’s researchers suggested the Hong Kong government to carry out compulsory mass testing strategy in mid or late April, when the infection numbers drop to lower levels than the peak in order to achieve the elimination goal of the “zero infection” strategy.

The research team also stated, “Doing so [compulsory mass testing] earlier, especially when case numbers will still be too high to properly and appropriately isolate and care for, paying particular attention to population mental and emotional wellbeing in Hong Kong’s unique context, would not be recommended.”

News coverage:
rthk.hk – https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1636541-20220301.htm

Hong Kong Economic Times – https://bit.ly/3HxsB8s

am730 – https://bit.ly/36GQKNe

Sky Post – https://bit.ly/3HqdZrG

HK01 – https://bit.ly/3vtrBjm

The Standard – https://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/187678/Fifth-wave-to-peak-this-week-with-over-180,000-daily-infections:-HKU