Lawmaker says closed-loop scheme not the only option

Social-welfare lawmaker, Tik Chi-yuen, says a closed-loop system to prevent Covid infections in nursing homes needs to have 100 percent participation from residents and staff, otherwise it’s “meaningless”.

The government on Wednesday announced a so-called closed-loop system under which carers will sleep in hotels and take designated transport to their places of work, but said it wasn’t mandatory.

Tik told Vicky Wong that it wouldn’t be an easy system to arrange, and there were other options to protect elderly residents.

“For example more isolated place, and vaccination for the elderly should be carried on, so the closed-loop arrangement is one choice, but how to improve it we need to listen the voice from the centres.

Up to now they start the discussion. If more staff accept it will be one way.”