- Hong Kong managed to limit the progress of the coronavirus for two months. Strict measures of social distancing without total confinement, screening, high-tech control, it is interesting to see how the megalopolis has managed the health crisis.
- Catherine, a Hong Kong woman, tells us how she lived the first weeks of the epidemic in this area.
- Since mid-March, the number of cases has increased, prompting the local government to take more drastic new measures.
Many analysts cite the Korean model for its effectiveness in the fight against Covid-19: low case fatality rate and massive screening (the two probably being correlated). But another example may prove interesting: that of Hong Kong.
The independent administrative region, located in the southeast of China, has 7.5 million inhabitants and an impressive proximity. She had been relatively spared from the pandemic with only 4 deaths. Until mid-March. Since then, the number of cases has increased dramatically. But how did Hong Kong manage the first crisis and this second wave?
Respond early and strong
Reactively, to say the least. As of January 27, all kindergartens and schools are closed. On January 28, public servants are called to telecommute. The government is launching an information campaign to teach people to respect barrier gestures. Holiday centers are transformed into quarantine zones for contact cases. No total confinement, therefore, but strict measures: temperature measurement on arrival at the airport, ban on meetings and parties, massive screening, tracing of contact cases…
Catherine, a Hong Kong woman who now lives in Lausanne, tells how she lived these few weeks of the beginning of the epidemic in the megalopolis. Pregnant, but not so worried, she joined Hong Kong at the end of January, where only a few cases were then declared. "The government has stopped flights between Wuhan and Hong Kong," she tells us. Experts quickly advised to respect barrier gestures: wear masks, wash your hands regularly, telecommute… ”
Respect for scientists
Hong Kongers comply with this new way of life without complaining. "It must be said that companies, like schools, are fairly prepared and equipped for remote work," says Catherine. At first, we felt an opposition between the measures advocated by the government and those requested by doctors and scientists, more stringent. Besides, there was a strike of medical workers to close the border with China. But in Hong Kong, we tend to respect the opinions of our experts. "
This, no doubt, is less the case in France, where scientific speech, sometimes contradictory, often questioned at the time of fake news , is hard to convince. "Hong Kong has successfully contained the epidemic for at least two months," said the 30-year-old. But it is also thanks to private initiatives. For example, a millionaire chartered his private jet to buy and send masks to hospitals. "
The trauma of SARS
Another difference from Europe: the experience of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 was experienced as a trauma. Indeed, the epidemic had caused the death of 299 people out of 2,000 cases in Hong Kong, the second region to pay the heaviest price after mainland China (349). "We learned, painfully, that nurses and doctors had sacrificed themselves to save us," continues Catherine. This is why we absolutely wanted to respect the guidelines for social distancing, to save them. We did not wait for the government to protect us. "
Size clarification: after a few supply problems at the start, masks are available in all pharmacies. And in this Asian country, wearing a surgical mask seems much more commonplace than in the Paris RER. "On an individual level, the experience of SARS has prepared people to voluntarily yield to significant self-discipline by avoiding, for example, crowds and by strengthening their personal hygiene", analyze two Hong Kong-based infectious diseases specialists, Benjamin J. Cowling and Wey Wen Lim, in a New York Times article . “These places [Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong] were better equipped to deal with an epidemic of the new coronavirus than many others. "
"We also knew that this virus would not only affect the elderly," says Catherine. Even so, several generations often live in tiny apartments in this megalopolis. “In Asia, we consider it our duty to respect and take care of our parents and grandparents. "
A second wave
However, this first burst of measures did not completely stop the pandemic. The number of Covid-19 cases has exploded since March 17, due to the return of infected people to the region. If Hong Kong counted 150 cases only on March 15, the balance rose to 672 cases and 31 deaths on Saturday March 28. A second wave that has cause for concern in Europe. Because if the measures of social distancing and confinement are brutally lifted, this situation of health crisis could last even longer than expected…
How is Hong Kong trying to stop this aftershock? From March 19, all new arrivals had to wear an electronic bracelet, linked to a Stay Home Safe app to assure the authorities that they stay at home during their quarantine. And those who do not respect these measures risk big: up to 3,000 euros fine and six months in prison. According to Le Monde, the announcement of the compulsory wearing of this electronic bracelet encouraged some, who had fled the region, to return. Especially since Hong Kong was a model in crisis management ... This new spread of the epidemic has pushed the authorities to further restrictions. Since last Wednesday, all non-residents have been prohibited from entering the territory. As for residents who return, they must respect a severe quarantine: no exit allowed.
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"In addition, the Mcdos decided to close at 6 p.m.," says Catherine. A detail ? No, because these fast-food stores have previously accommodated many homeless people so that they do not spend the night outside. In addition, the different approach to barrier measures between Westerners and Hong Kongers can be seen in some recent articles. In particular that of the South China Morning Post , spotted by Courrier International , which reveals that expatriates living in this former British colony are accused of not taking the pandemic seriously enough.
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