(Year-end Feature) The ray of sunshine in the 2020 Hong Kong "epidemic" winter

　　China News Service, Hong Kong, December 27th. Title: The sunshine in the 2020 Hong Kong "epidemic" winter

　　China News Agency reporter Wang Jiacheng

　　As of December 27, the cumulative number of confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in Hong Kong has exceeded 8,500.

Although I don’t know when the cold winter brought by the epidemic will end, looking back on this year, dedicated medical staff, rushing aid from the Mainland, four rounds of epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic funds, ordinary citizens, groups and businesses who are able to contribute to the society, etc. , All warmed this winter like wisps of sunshine.

The picture shows Hong Kong citizens traveling in Tsim Sha Tsui wearing masks.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Zhihua

Society loves to solve the urgent shortage of masks

　　On January 22, 2020, Hong Kong recorded the first confirmed case of new coronary pneumonia.

Three days later, as the number of confirmed cases continued to increase, the SAR government officially declared the new crown epidemic an "emergency" and began to implement immigration control on the 28th.

At that time, masks became a hot commodity in the city, and the price of a box of general surgical masks was once bid up to 300 yuan (Hong Kong dollars, the same below) or even higher.

　　The reporter interviewed an old Cantonese restaurant in Wan Chai. After the owner Mr. Huang immediately equipped the staff with mask supplies, he deliberately sought out quality mask sources from Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia and the Philippines, and finally worked hard to get them together. About 20,000 are out.

He did not hesitate to transfer the first batch of masks to charity organizations to donate to frontline medical staff, the elderly and other people in need.

　　Many capable companies, businesses, organizations, etc. in Hong Kong also collect health protection materials from all over the world through various channels, and donate or sell them at a reasonable price to meet the urgent needs of the public.

The government promotes four rounds of anti-epidemic funds for the people

　　On February 21, the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council of the Special Administrative Region approved the first round of 30 billion yuan funding application for the anti-epidemic fund.

The first round of aid funds mainly support the Hospital Authority’s anti-epidemic work, mask production, and retail and catering industries that have been hit harder by the epidemic.

The "Retail Industry Subsidy Program" launched under the fund received applications from 93,000 retail businesses.

　　The second round of the epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic fund has a total value of 137.5 billion yuan, focusing on employment promotion. The Zhongbao Employment Program spent about 81 billion yuan.

Under this plan, employers applying for subsidies must promise not to lay off employees; and in terms of job creation, the SAR government will create 30,000 time-limited jobs worth 6 billion yuan in the next two years, including hiring 10,000 more civil servants and 5000 youth internship positions.

　　In September, the Hong Kong government once again allocated 24 billion yuan as the third round of anti-epidemic funds to once again assist the catering, tourism, and transportation industries that were severely affected by the epidemic.

　　A few months later, the SAR government applied for another 6.4 billion injection into the Epidemic Prevention and Anti-epidemic Fund, of which 5.5 billion will be used to launch 19 funding programs to help industries and citizens that have been hit hard by the epidemic.

This round of applications was also approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on December 21.

Inland Chi assists force testing to build "square cabin"

　　The third wave of the epidemic that broke out in early July has developed rapidly. The rapid increase in confirmed cases has increased the pressure on Hong Kong's public health system, and the negative pressure wards are almost full.

At the request of the SAR government, seven members of the first "Mainland Nucleic Acid Testing Support Team" established by the National Health Commission went to Hong Kong on August 2 to assist in laboratory work.

Subsequently, the support team arrived in Hong Kong in batches and quickly set up a large-scale nucleic acid detection "Fire Eye Laboratory" (temporary air film laboratory).

　　On September 1, the SAR government launched the "Universal Community Testing Program."

More than 1.78 million citizens participated in the test within 14 days of the implementation of the plan.

The staff of Fire Eye Laboratory worked around the clock and successfully completed this huge sample inspection task.

The "Inside Local Cabin Hospital Support Team" composed of many experts with practical experience also went to Hong Kong to provide technical support for the design, operation and management of the AsiaWorld-Expo community treatment facility (the Hong Kong version of the shelter hospital).

　　In addition, the construction of a temporary hospital next to the Hong Kong Asia Expo will be provided to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority in January next year.

The temporary hospital will provide a negative pressure ward with more than 800 beds and related medical facilities.

The epidemic has risen again, looking forward to the cold winter and warm spring return

　　Today, the fourth wave of epidemics hit Hong Kong again.

In response to the epidemic, a series of anti-epidemic measures by the SAR government followed: no more than 2 people for dinner parties, no dinning after 6 pm, entertainment venues closed, and people arriving in Hong Kong other than the mainland are required to undergo a 21-day compulsory isolation... .

　　For Hong Kong citizens who have experienced the ups and downs of the epidemic many times, there is too much powerlessness this year.

Families in the two places cannot be reunited, and they dare not meet with relatives and friends. The graduation ceremony photo has to be post-production... Across the cold screen, it seems that the temperature is always lower.

　　But hope is also in the hearts of Hong Kong people. People believe that winter is here and spring will not be far away.

　　A few days ago, the SAR government has reached three new crown vaccine procurement agreements, purchased 22.5 million doses of vaccine, and will vaccinate Hong Kong citizens free of charge next year.

　　Citizen Ms. Guo believes that although there are fewer gatherings and no trips, there is a lot more time to improve yourself.

Many friends started to exercise and learn new languages. Everyone became more self-disciplined and their lives remained colorful.

"After the vaccine arrives in Hong Kong, I hope we can all produce antibodies (after vaccination), and then have a better life."

　　Mr. Cheng, a young man from Hong Kong, told reporters that in order to reunite with his wife in Guangzhou, he quit his job and went to Guangzhou and planned to develop in the Greater Bay Area.

Mr. Cheng said: "I have changed my driver's license and learned about employment policies. There is a big development stage (in the Mainland)."

(Finish)