OT&P Healthcare Podcast

Over the course of the pandemic, Dr David Owens has written a series of articles analysing the Hong Kong Covid response. As China begins to shift away from the strategy of ‘dynamic zero Covid’, this article considers how lessons learned from the different strategies in Hong Kong and Singapore can best be applied when considering the current challenges facing the mainland. 

The recent increase in case numbers and tightening of social distancing policies has again reminded Hong Kong residents that although the rest of the world has moved on to other things, our city continues to march to the dynamic zero Covid beat. In our latest podcast, Doctor David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss a wide range of issues around the science of Covid including the emerging 6th wave, the evidence for vaccines and masks and lessons from the Russian flu pandemic of 1889. They also discuss Long Covid and answer questions from you our listeners.

The fifth wave of Omicron BA.2 is currently having a significant impact on our city. Hong Kong is in the unenviable position of having the highest mortality rate in the world. In our latest podcast, Dr David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the current situation. They also discuss the factors driving the high mortality. They explain that we are already at herd immunity and ask what that means for Hong Kong over the next few months. They also answer questions submitted by you, our listeners. 

In this episode Dr David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the evolving fifth wave in Hong Kong. In a change from our previous episodes, we asked our listeners to submit questions, we were overwhelmed with the response and apologise that we were not able to cover all issues. This episode covers amongst other topics, the transmission of Covid, elimination or mitigation as a strategy, vaccinations in children and the potential impact on physical and psychological well-being as a result of the public health measures.

After 6 months without a community case of Covid, we are now seeing sporadic community cases with clusters of both Omicron and Delta infections in Hong Kong. In our latest podcast Doctor David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the current situation. They discuss the dilemma of a Zero Covid strategy without a plan for exit. They consider what a plan B may look like. They also discuss the costs of the public health policy on physical and mental health and hamsters.

It is now two months since the last community case in Hong Kong and the bubble with the mainland is due to open in the next few weeks. In our latest podcast Doctor David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the current situation in Hong Kong and the potential implications of the Omicron variant recently identified in South Africa. They discuss the dilemmas around vaccine hesitancy in the context of zero covid and specifically the threat of low vaccination rates in the vulnerable elderly. They also discuss the role of booster doses and the philosophical arguments around vaccine mandates. 

Whilst much of the world begins the transition to normality Hong Kong has doubled down on a zero COVID strategy in an attempt to achieve the as yet undefined criteria which will allow an open border with China. In our latest podcast, Dr David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the brittle nature of Zero Covid and the lack of evidence and potential harm caused by recent public health decisions around quarantine. They also discuss the dilemma around decisions on vaccinating children and giving booster doses. The risk-benefit calculations of both these interventions change depending upon the long term public health strategy.

Hong Kong has removed objective benefits for vaccinated travellers and doubled down on a Zero Covid strategy. Doctor David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the recent changes. They discuss the evidence for the reduced incubation period and increased infectivity of the delta variant and the importance of positive messaging to increase vaccination uptake in high-risk groups. They both see living with Covid as the only long-term effective strategy. 

In our latest podcast, Dr David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the evolving Covid public health strategies playing out in different parts of the world. They also discuss the role of booster doses and the challenges of maximising the population benefit of the available vaccines in the context of vaccine inequity. 

Dr David Owens and Professor Ben Cowling discuss the recent government decision to reduce quarantine for vaccinated individuals provided they have proof of positive antibodies. They discuss the evolving evidence for a strong antibody response, especially with the BioNTech vaccine and the curious case of the recent alpha cluster in Hong Kong. In particular whether the crocodile was guilty or not guilty.