Asia

Photos show the covid-19 emergency in Hong Kong

Hong Kong had kept the coronavirus largely at bay since the start of the pandemic.

But the omicron wave has now spread through the city, hitting the unvaccinated and elderly in particular. New covid-19 infections have broken records daily, reaching more than 7,000 on Monday.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Patients with covid-19 symptoms wait in beds outside a medical center on Feb. 15.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Residents wait at a makeshift coronavirus testing station on Feb. 17.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Hong Kong has been under pressure from mainland China to control its outbreak. Carrie Lam, the territory’s chief executive, announced that it will mandate coronavirus testing for its entire population of 7.5 million.

Every resident of Hong Kong will have to be tested three times, with samples sent to the mainland, Lam said, if there is no testing capacity locally.

The city is also imposing strict social distancing restrictions.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam holds a news conference Feb. 22.

Vincent Yu/AP

Vincent Yu/AP

Residents wait in line at a makeshift coronavirus testing station on Feb. 18.

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

Anthony Kwan/Getty Images

A waiter wearing a face mask waits for customers at an empty restaurant in Hong Kong on Feb. 21. (Vincent Yu/AP)

An empty metro station in Hong Kong on Feb. 21.

Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

Teams from mainland China have arrived in the city, helping build mass-isolation centers reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic in Wuhan.

Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

A construction site for a mass-isolation facility at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on Feb. 22.

Kin Cheung/AP

Kin Cheung/AP

Kin Cheung/AP

Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg

Restrictions will continue until the end of April.

Chan Long Hei/Bloomberg

An empty highway in Hong Kong's Wanchai district on Feb. 21.

Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images

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Credits

Photo editing and production by Olivier Laurent