🌊 You can expect more of those emergency alerts 🚨

Also, shared rooms for COVID-19 isolation facilities?!

Good morning,

Happy Friday!

After Wednesday’s deafening emergency alert sent my entire household into sheer pandemonium, I (patiently) waited for the government to provide some form of explanation in defense of why people were given a near heart attack over an already publicly available news item. 🥲

And yesterday, we got just that.

Let’s begin…

– Carlos

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On Today’s Tide:

1. COVID-19 | Government defends unprecedented use of new ‘emergency’ alert

2. COVID-19 (cont.) |

   • Patients may have to share rooms at isolation facilities with strangers

   • Secretary for Security warns of jail time, fines for those who refuse COVID isolation

   • CHP says the fifth wave has peaked (maybe)

3. Society | Fire engulfs major shipping terminal in Kwai Chung

4. Events

For premium readers:

1. Crime | Man sentenced to 27 years behind bars over foiled murder plot

2. Diplomat | Extra flight to Canada

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🚨 Government justifies its use of citywide ‘emergency’ alert

COVID-19

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan defended the government’s decision to send an ‘emergency’ alert to, well, literally everyone in Hong Kong, calling it an “urgent” and “time-sensitive” matter to notify people Queen Elizabeth Hospital was converted into a designated COVID-19 hospital. She noted the government would keep sending people more alerts going forward.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam, meanwhile, added the decision to use the HK$150 million system in issuing the alert was “suitable” and “saved time”, despite complaints the sudden alarm noise scared elderly and children.

🇭🇰 5th 👋 Aaron @tripperhead

#COVID19 cases 🇭🇰 (March 10th) • new reported PCR+ cases: 24,380 • new reported RAT+ cases: 7,012 • local total: 31,392 • imported: 10 • Total cases: 617,419 • local cases 5th wave: 603,907

• New cases: 31,402 (24,390 confirmed by PCR)

• Total cases: 617,419

• New deaths: 180

• Total deaths: 3150

• People sent to quarantine in community isolation facilities may have to share a room with strangers (yes, you read that right) should the facilities reach maximum capacity.

• Secretary for Security Chris Tang warned yesterday that residents who refuse government requests to go to isolation facilities may face imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of HK$5,000. Neat. 🥲

• The CHP said the fifth wave “may” have already peaked, with one mainland health official adding the situation is reaching a plateau.

• Carrie Lam yesterday pointed out now is “not the right time” to lift the current ban on incoming flights from nine countries.

• Government adviser Yuen Kwok-yung has urged families to get vaccinated, after noting children are at higher risk of brain swelling or sudden death due to COVID-19.

• A second community isolation facility has opened in San Tin, with four more such facilities to be completed by the end of this month.

Lockdown updates:

• 931 COVID-19 infections were uncovered following overnight lockdowns of eight blocks in Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun, Kwai Chung and Diamond Hill for mass testing yesterday.

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Fire engulfs major Kwai Chung shipping terminal

Society

Eight fire engines and an ambulance rushed to an open area near Kwai Chung Container Terminal 7 after a massive blaze broke out just before 10:30 yesterday morning.

The fire, which set off plumes of black smoke visible all the way from Kennedy Town and Victoria Harbour, was extinguished 15 minutes after it started. Initial police reports indicated the incident began after some styrofoam boxes and various other items burst into flames along a roadside.

Thankfully, nobody was injured. 🙏🏼

🇭🇰 5th 👋 Aaron @tripperhead

For those asking: According to local media reports, the fire at Container Terminal 7 in Tsing Yi was a pile of Styrofoam boxes. No one was injured.

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