China News Service, Hong Kong, August 1. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government decided on July 31 to postpone the 2020 Legislative Council general election for one year. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA), which manages all public hospitals in Hong Kong, and a number of Hong Kong healthcare organizations have expressed their understanding and respect for the decision of the SAR government.
A spokesman for the Hospital Authority said that the recent outbreak of the new crown pneumonia in Hong Kong has not been contained, a large number of community-infected patients, and the occurrence of large-scale high-risk groups such as nursing homes and food groups have caused heavy pressure on public hospitals. Therefore, the Hospital Authority understands and respects the decision of the SAR Government on the arrangements for the election of the Legislative Council.
The spokesman said that the Hospital Authority agreed that measures that would help prevent the spread of the epidemic, including reducing crowd gathering and maintaining social distance, would help minimize public health risks and thereby reduce the pressure on public hospitals.
The Hong Kong Medical Council Member Licensed Doctor Association, Hong Kong Health Care Professionals Association, Hong Kong Medical Staff Federation, Hong Kong Public Medical Nurses Association, and other 15 medical staff organizations issued a joint statement stating that the third wave of the outbreak in Hong Kong covers 18 districts in Hong Kong. Nothing was spared, and medical staff were also diagnosed, and public hospitals were nearly saturated. If the epidemic continues to worsen, the medical system will undoubtedly collapse.
The statement said that the new crown virus has strong viability, multiple transmission routes, and fast infection speed. It can survive for a long time on the surface of various materials such as plastic and stainless steel; it can enter the eyes, nose and mouth through droplets, air and contact. Infect the human body. Currently, any public gathering activities will aggravate the spread of the virus. If millions of people gather at a polling station to vote, it will undoubtedly be a firefighter and put the lives of citizens to death.
The statement stated that as medical care, we strongly urge the public to maintain their health, protect lives, abandon political disputes, support the postponement of any large-scale public gathering activities, including the Legislative Council elections, and wholeheartedly prevent and control the epidemic. (Finish)