Just two days ago, Hong Kong went into a semi-lockdown.
The number of daily cases in Hong Kong has often been rather flat…
…until July hits.
Hong Kong’s “third” wave of Covid-19 infections started from a cook in a restaurant, then just like Resident Evil, it started spreading rapidly.
By 28 Jul 2020, Hong Kong has hit its 7th day of having more than 100 new Covid-19 cases reported daily with 15 deaths in the month of July, with the average age at 82 years old.
The worst part? Hong Kong couldn’t link an increasing number of community cases to any clusters. Read: Unlinked community cases rising.
Initially, Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam had wanted to impose restrictions progressively but numbers continued increasing.
And that’s when the Hong Kong government announced new restrictions that sound suspiciously like a lockdown: Gatherings are restricted to two people, and everyone must put on a mask when they’re in public spaces—even in a covered outdoor area.
Dine-in would be banned and all sports premises and swimming pools would be shut down.
These restrictions will kick in today (29 July 2020).
And now, the leader of Hong Kong has more bad news to add.
Hong Kong Leader Warns The City is Going to Have a Large-Scale COVID-19 OutBreak
Hong Kong is on the verge of a large-scale Covid-19 outbreak with disastrous consequences, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said.
How bad?
It could lead to the collapse of the hospital system in Hong Kong and many people dying, especially the elderly.
Ms Lam urges people in the city of Hong Kong to follow the social restrictions that kicked in today (29 Jul 2020) for the sake of “our loved ones, our healthcare staff and Hong Kong”.
“Stay at home as much as possible.”
The restrictions will be in place for at least seven days, although judging by the nature of Covid-19, it could last a tad bit longer.
Pushback From Union Representing FedEx Corps Pilots
You know what they say, right? You can’t make everyone happy.
And Ms Lam’s decision made the union representing FedEx Corps Pilots very unhappy.
So unhappy they have appealed to FedEx, the US package delivery company, to suspend operations in Hong Kong.
The Air Line Pilots Association International (ALPA) says three pilots were forced to stay in the hospital for 10 days despite being asymptomatic cases.
Several other pilots who tested negative for the coronavirus but had close contacts with the positive cases were made to stay at “government camps”.
FedEx has responded to their appeal, saying “the company was fully engaged with government authorities to support its crew members in situations that required medical treatment or self-isolation in Hong Kong.”
In other words, we will follow the government’s direction when it comes to Covid-19.
You got to admit, though, the union’s actions are pretty spectacular; in a time where unemployment is already at an all-time high, they’re looking to get even more people unemployed.
Lessons from Hong Kong
In a previous article, Hong Kong was criticised by experts for easing restrictions too fast.
Singapore is learning from other countries to prevent a second wave, and if there’s one takeaway from Hong Kong, it’s this: lifting of restrictions will lead to an infection wave, and implementing restrictions would drastically break the chain of infection fastly.
In Hong Kong, it’s proven not just once but twice, and if these latest measures work, it’d be thrice le.
So, if you want to continue having your chendol in hawker centres, don’t complain about having to wear masks.
If this can happen to Hong Kong, it can happen in Singapore, too, so download the TraceTogether app to help fight COVID-19. If you’re still worried about privacy, then watch this video (and also subscribe to our YouTube channel, please?):
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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