The city’s strict but successful “zero-Covid” policy had largely kept the virus out for months.

But when the highly transmissible Omicron variant broke through Hong Kong’s defences, authorities were caught flat-footed with a dangerously under-vaccinated population and few plans in place to deal with a mass outbreak.

The extremely contagious Omicron variant was first discovered within Hong Kong’s local community in late December — far later than much of the rest of the world.

Authorities reacted quickly — banning flights, forbidding gatherings of more than two, and launching a mass hamster cull after coronavirus-positive pet store rodents were discovered.

But these measures did little to curb Omicron’s spread.

As of Friday, Hong Kong had recorded more than 20,200 infections in less than two months — outstripping its cumulative two-year total of about 12,000.

City leader Carrie Lam admitted this week the fifth wave had “dealt a heavy blow”, and by Friday announced a postponement to the planned March selection of Hong Kong’s next chief executive.

Britain plans to set out plans next week to remove self-isolation requirements for people infected with Covid, a move that health experts think could be risky. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement that “Covid will not suddenly disappear, and we need to learn to live with this virus and continue to protect ourselves without restricting our freedoms.”

In England, currently, people are advised to isolate if they have Covid-19 symptoms or test positive. They are legally required to self-isolate for at least five days if instructed to by public health officials

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The daily positivity rate has declined to 12.45%.

Cumulatively, 20,66,285 tests conducted in the last 24 hours in the country.

India’s Daily Recoveries continue to outnumberthe Daily New Cases for the ninth consecutive day. 3,57,630recoveries were registered in the last 24 hours.

India’s cumulative recoveries have reached 2,30,70,365today. The National Recovery Rate has grown further to touch 87.76%.

Ten states account for 73.46% of the new recoveries.

In another positive development, India has recordedless than 3 lakh Daily New cases for six consecutive days now.

2,57,299DailyNew Cases were registered in the last 24 hours.

Ten States reported 78.12% of thenew cases in last 24 hours.Tamil Naduhas reported the highest daily new cases at 36,184, followed by Karnataka with 32,218new cases.

On the other hand, India’s total Active Caseload has decreased to 29,23,400today.

A net decline of 1,04,525is witnessed in the last 24 hours.

It now comprises 11.12% of the country’s total Positive Cases.

8States cumulatively account for 69.94% of India’s total Active Cases.

The graph below highlights the change in active cases for states in the last 24 hours.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country exceeded 19.33 Crtoday under the Phase-3 of the nationwide Vaccination Drive.

A total of 19,33,72,819vaccine doses have been administered through 27,76,936sessions, as per the provisional report till 7 am today. These include 97,38,148HCWs who have taken the 1^st dose and 66,91,350HCWs who have taken the 2^nddose, 1,48,70,081FLWs (1^stdose), 83,06,020FLWs (2^nddose), 92,97,532beneficiaries under 18-44 age group (1^stdose),6,02,11,957(1^stdose) and 96,84,295(2^nd dose) beneficiaries aged 45 to 60 years.5,63,83,7601^stdose beneficiaries and 1,81,89,6762^nd dose beneficiaries of more than 60 years old.

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The death toll in Hubei, the Chinese province at the centre of the epidemic, had risen to 204 and there were 9,692 cases of infection nationally as of Thursday, Chinese health authorities said. About 100 cases have been reported in at least 18 other countries, with no deaths outside China.

Even as the WHO said cases had spread to 18 countries, Italy announced its first confirmed cases, in two Chinese tourists.

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said the government had decided to close all air traffic between Italy and China, a more drastic measure than most countries have undertaken.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said the organization “doesn’t recommend – and actually opposes” restrictions on travel or trade with China.

Nonetheless, foreign governments have been flying home their citizens from Hubei and holding them in quarantine, while airlines including Air France , American Airlines and British Airways have stopped flying to mainland China.

Airlines are facing mounting pressure by cabin crew to stop all flights due to unease about exposure to the virus.

Stocks around the world have tumbled on fears of the economic fallout from the outbreak in the world’s second-biggest economy.

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