Disneyland has closed in Hong Kong. It is the third time in 10 months that you have to put the lock on your door again because of a new wave of infections. Schools have closed in Hong Kong. It is the third time in a year that children will have to continue the lessons from home with online classes. The karaoke bars, game centers, bars and swimming pools (it is 24 degrees on average), have also closed. The gyms are still open, but there cannot be more than two people at a time. Just as there cannot be more than two diners seated at the same table in the restaurant, nor can more than two colleagues meet in the street. The restrictions have returned to a city of seven and a half million inhabitants with 6,300 infections and 109 deaths.

At first glance, comparing how large cities in other countries are doing, doubling or tripling these infection data, the situation in the former British colony does not seem an alarming situation. But Hong Kong epidemiologists speak of a fourth wave and politicians are clear that severe restrictions, taken on time, are the only way to curb the infections. They have already done it several times this year. Today, 82 new cases were reported in the Asian financial center.

As of early March, Hong Kong had just reported 150 cases in total. The measures to confine part of its inhabitants in semi-quarantine had stopped the pandemic. Everything seemed controlled. So much so that the officials returned to the offices, the subways were filled again and people lost their fear, returning to a certain normal life in bars and restaurants. But the return of foreigners and nationals who escaped the viral blow from other countries arrived. Many of them also carried the coronavirus in their luggage. What caused that, from the second half of March, the new daily cases, all imported, were counted by the dozens until they exceeded 300.

It was the beginning of the second wave and the Executive chaired by Carrie Lam ordered bars and restaurants to close again. In addition, they forced everyone who entered Hong Kong to pass a 14-day quarantine. The returnees had to wear an electronic bracelet and download an application on their mobile that monitored all their movements.

In July, less than a month after the authorities began to lift the social distancing measures, the coronavirus hit the former colony again, starting the third wave of infections. The daily infections caressed the hundred and some restrictions were resumed such as the closure of schools and the capacity limits in bars and restaurants.

Five months later, Hong Kong reimposes the old restrictions - which will be in force for at least two weeks - and is the only city in the world that speaks of a fourth wave of infections. Whoever breaks the new rules is exposed to fines that are around 450 euros. This latest upturn in cases, according to the South China Morning Post, is due to a group of supercontagators who frequented dance clubs, the main focus that has already left more than 500 infections. "This new wave is certainly serious because many of those who have tested positive in recent weeks have been in contact with multitudes of people," said the head of the local government, Carrie Lam.