Will Hong Kong do better when next big public health crisis hits?
Experts confident history will not repeat itself if another pandemic strikes but say more must be done to strengthen public confidence and healthcare services
In this series of stories to mark five years since Hong Kong recorded its first Covid-19 case on January 22, 2020, the Post looks at how some residents’ lives changed and examines the city’s readiness for the next global pandemic.
“I dare not look back, nor can I forget it. The elderly were dying, staff were terrified to work, and no care home was spared,” she said.
Five years after the city recorded its first Covid-19 case, however, she was confident much had changed, with the care industry better prepared with stronger infection control awareness to face a new public health crisis.
“We never let down our guard, which helped us manage recent flu and norovirus outbreaks with minimal severe cases or deaths,” said Li, honorary chairwoman of the Elderly Services Association.
Care homes now enforce mask-wearing and temperature checks for visitors, and have assigned dedicated staff in full protective gear to handle infected residents. Ventilation and drainage systems have also been upgraded.
But vaccine hesitancy remained an issue for some. “While flu vaccines are widely accepted, it took significant effort and education to address misconceptions about Covid-19 vaccines,” Li said.