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🌊RAT tests for everyone

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

🌊RAT tests for everyone

Almost at the 10k daily caseload mark- yikes

Harbour Times
Aug 28, 2022
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🌊RAT tests for everyone

www.hightide.harbourtimes.com

Good morning,

Happy Monday. Tired? How about putting this glorious track of the legendary Itzhak Perlman playing Beetoven’s Violin Concerto to jam to on your commute? Seriously, do it. You’ll feel more awake and really sophisticated, I swear.

For those of you who have felt that their Shakespeare obsession hasn’t been quite fulfilled, here’s the banging playlist of the songs in the cult classic musical, ā€˜Shakespeare Rocks!’ Also feel free to enjoy this Tide-unaffiliated recording of the production by some random primary school.

-Charlotte


On Today’s Tide

  1. Breaking | RAT tests for everyone

  2. COVID | almost at the 10k mark…

  3. Education | Will in-person classes be suspended?

  4. Politics | Honorary chair James Tien quits Liberal Party

  5. Events

Behind the paywall:

  1. Economy | Selling the HK dollar amid US interest increases

  2. Society | Advocacy group calls for ban on subdivided flats

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RAT tests galore

As of Sunday, August 28th (someone’s birthday out there, hbd!) the new RAT test measure has officially come into action. What measure, you ask? RAT tests are now mandatory for groups of more than 8 people at eateries too (we stan inclusivity). A photo of a negative RAT test taken up to 24 hours before entry must be presented for these groups.

Rapid COVID-19 antigen tests should be used for frontline workers, politicians and experts argue - ABC News
What a negative test looks like. Image via abcnews.

The new policy was first announced on Friday, causing many to withdraw their reservations at restaurants. Restaurateur testimonies have mentioned the predicted loss in sales due to this, and have asked customers to conduct their own tests at home for convenience and safety.

For the alternate route, one could also use a text message of a negative PCR test issued within T-minus 48 hours to dining.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan said: ā€œWe need to strike a balance between people’s livelihood and anti-epidemic needs…We hope that when the infection number decreases, we can relax the rules.ā€

Everyone gets a test! Image via imgflip.com.

COVID in Hong Kong

Twitter avatar for @newsgovhk
Hong Kong SAR Government News @newsgovhk
The Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating 9,495 additional locally acquired #COVID19 cases, of which 2,930 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 6,565 via verified rapid antigen tests
news.gov.hkLocal COVID-19 cases exceed 9kThe Centre for Health Protection says it is investigating 9,495 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 2,930 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 6,565 via verified rapid antigen tests.
1:08 PM āˆ™ Aug 28, 2022
  • New cases: 9,708 (213 imported)

  • Total cases: 1,483,319

  • New deaths: 10

  • Total deaths: 9,664

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Ok, Zoomers (please no)

School authorities are advocating for full-day classes to continue following the Secretary of Education’s warning on Saturday. We are drawing dangerously close to the highlighted 10,000 daily caseload mark, and the threat of in-person classes being suspended looms darkly.

On Sunday, Education Minister Christine Choi said that the government had informed schools that half-day face-to-face classes would be seen as the minimum for the coming academic year. But after three years of unstable class schedules and intermittent online learning, faculty, parents, and students have had enough. (I’m totally not biased)

However, the chairwoman of the Wong Tai Sin District Secondary School Heads Association had some words of hope to offer: ā€œWhen the daily caseload reaches more than 10,000, if a majority of the infections are found at schools, there may be a need to suspend full-day [in-person] classes. But at the moment, we don’t see a lot of cases coming from schools.ā€

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James Tien quits Liberal Party

The co-founder of the Liberal Party resigned this month after more than 30 years as part of the pro-establishment political camp. James Tien resigned before its leadership could take away his position as an honorary chair.

His fellow Liberal Party members Selina Chow (left) and Miriam Lau (right) also stepped down after learning that Tommy Cheung and the rest of the party leadership planned to scrap the position of honorary co-chairs.

(From left) Selina Chow, James Tien and Miriam Lau at an event in 2011. Photo: May Tse
Image via SCMP.

Tien said, ā€œThis is something they think they must do to please Beijing, a way they work in the hope of retaining their jobs in public office.ā€ Not hesitating to further spill the tea, Tien also stated, ā€œThere is no future in all political parties. Beijing’s electoral overhaul is diminishing the role of parties and eliminating differences in opinion.ā€


Events and deals

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

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HT is proud to once again be a media partner for ReThink - HK’s biggest and most exciting sustainability conference. This year’s conference invites more than 300 expert speakers to share their visions and insights, covering important topics like economic progression while coexisting with nature harmoniously, efficient use of resources, transformation to a low-carbon society, and circular economy for future generations.

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