Hong Kong Infection Rate; Bali Set to Reopen: Virus Update

(Bloomberg) --

About 15% of Hong Kong's population may have been infected by Covid-19, local media reported, citing estimates by a professor advising the government on the pandemic.

New cases will continue to rise and may peak by the middle of this month, Radio Television Hong Kong cited David Hui, a Chinese University of Hong Kong professor of respiratory medicine, as saying. Hui made the estimate based on infection rates found in buildings that have been subject to localized lockdowns and compulsory testing in recent days, RTHK reported.

The city is grappling with a record outbreak that has led overwhelmed mortuaries to deploy mobile refrigeration units to store bodies. Hong Kong's January retail sales grew at the slowest pace since July, with the government warning of further pressure amid a surge in Covid cases.

Indonesia is bringing forward plans to allow quarantine-free entry for foreigners traveling to Bali, as cases in the country decline.

Key Developments:

Virus Tracker: Cases exceed 444.5 million; deaths top 5.9 million
Vaccine Tracker: More than 10.8 billion doses administered
Coronavirus Daily: Vaccines held up for kids amid omicron
Bloomberg Opinion's Matthew Brooker: Hong Kong's distress signals are rising

Masks Still Required in Mecca and Medina (2:20 p.m. NY)

Saudi Arabia will lift almost all Covid-19 restrictions, effective today, after the progress of the national vaccination program and high overall rates of immunity.

Citizens will no longer need to wear masks or practice social distancing outdoors, state-run SPA reported, citing a statement issued by the interior ministry.

Worshipers will no longer need to socially distance inside mosques, including the holy sites of Mecca and Medina, but will be required to remain wearing masks in these places, according to SPA report.

Ireland Ends Final Restriction (10:38 a.m. NY)

Ireland lifted its last Covid-19 restriction, ending the requirement for international travelers to show proof of vaccination or a negative test. “Another step forward in our Covid efforts,” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly tweeted. Face masks are still recommended but not required, according to the public health website.

Hong Kong Covid Cases (6 p.m. HK)

Hong Kong reported 37,529 new daily Covid cases and 150 deaths, taking total fatalities in the fifth wave of the virus to 1,561.

The city's death rate from the latest wave is 0.36% and involves people aged 11 months to 108 years old, with a median age of 85, health authorities said at a news conference. Six of the fatalities were children, four of whom were under the age of 10.

Malaysia Border Reopening Plan (3 p.m. HK)

Malaysia will announce the date for reopening its international borders next week, the New Straits Times reported, citing Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. The Cabinet approved the reopening proposal at a meeting this week and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will announce the date, the report said.

The announcement is crucial to allow airlines, hotels, immigration department and other tourism-related businesses to prepare for the reopening, Khairy told reporters on Saturday at a conference.

Bali Reopens Monday (12 p.m. HK)

Indonesia will allow quarantine-free entry for foreigners traveling to Bali starting March 7, bringing forward the plan by a week. Visitors from 23 countries, including the U.S., U.K. and Australia, can get a visa on arrival as long as they are fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19 prior to departure.

They will be tested again upon arrival on the island, with those positive for the virus required to isolate in a hotel or hospital until a follow-up swab on the third day. They must also have health insurance with Covid-19 coverage.

Bali's local government is preparing for the looser entry requirements by accelerating its booster program to reach at least 30% of its population by March 7, and readying hospital capacity for Covid-19 care.

Hong Kong Retail Sales (8:15 a.m. HK)

Hong Kong's retail sales grew at the slowest pace since July, with the government warning of further pressure ahead amid a surge in Covid cases.

The value of retail sales grew 4.1% in January from a year earlier, compared with the median estimate of 0.4% in a Bloomberg survey of economists. The volume of sales rose 1.7%.

U.S. Covid Funding (7:30 a.m. HK)

The U.S. will run out of Covid-19 treatments in the coming months without new funding from Congress, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki warned on Friday. Her comments follow a request by President Joe Biden's administration for $22.5 billion in emergency funds for the coronavirus response.

Without it, the U.S. will run out of monoclonal antibody treatments by May and out of antiviral pills by September, she said. Testing capacity would also soon slow, she said.

Hong Kong Mortuaries (5 a.m. HK)

Hong Kong's mortuaries are so overwhelmed they're deploying mobile refrigeration units to store bodies, as scenes reminiscent of the early days of the pandemic play out amid the city's worst Covid-19 wave yet.

Photos taken at the Fu Shan Public Mortuary show four refrigerated units in a car park. Nearby, bags of ice are stacked next to an empty coffin.

NYC Ends Restrictions (11 a.m. NY)

Starting Monday, New Yorkers will no longer require proof of vaccines to eat inside or go to concerts and children won't need to cover their faces in school, Mayor Eric Adams announced Friday. The easing follows similar moves by Boston, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia, and is a sign of economic revival.

“This is clearly an Arnold Schwarzenegger moment: We'll be back,” Adams said during an announcement in Times Square.

Still, he doesn't plan to revoke the city-wide mandate requiring public and private sector employees to be fully vaccinated.