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🌊 You can expect more of those emergency alerts 🚨

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🌊 You can expect more of those emergency alerts 🚨

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

Harbour Times
Mar 10, 2022
∙ Paid
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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


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

Become a premium subscriber for just $8US a month - extra daily news and weekend roundups!


🚨 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.

Twitter avatar for @tripperhead
🇭🇰 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
8:36 AM ∙ Mar 10, 2022
58Likes11Retweets
  • 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.


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. 🙏🏼

Twitter avatar for @tripperhead
🇭🇰 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.
4:02 AM ∙ Mar 10, 2022
53Likes13Retweets

Events and deals

Support Harbour Times, our friends and partners by attending these events! Let everyone know who sent you by tagging @harbourtimes

  • 10% off the Cellar: La Cabane x Harbour Times

Our friends over at La Cabane have kindly given all High Tide subscribers 10% off everything on their online store - high quality wines, cheeses and wines-and-cheeses accessories.

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Use the code HIGHONWINE10 at www.lacabane.hk to stock up your wine cellar today.

  • Hong Kong Arts Festival

Watch live-streamed operas and concerts, and even some one-on-one interactive live theatre! Make sure to register in advance – each show has its own attendance policy.

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Supporting Ukraine from the comfort of your couch

This isn’t really an event per say, but we thought our very internationally minded audience might be wondering how to get involved with humanitarian efforts. Luckily, you can literally do it by drinking beer, eating good Ukrainian food and calling our good friends at the Polish Consulate General.

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A post shared by Harbour Times | Hong Kong News (@harbourtimes)

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