Measures to cope with the Wuhan coronavirus' "second wave" -- but what of its "third wave" and more?

Signs in multiple languages detailing the maximum-four-people 

gathering rule and other measures posted at Victoria Park

 

  Enjoying the afternoon sun without gathering in

a group larger than four at Victoria Park's Central Lawn

 

The past week or so has seen a steadying, even downward trend, in the number of new Wuhan coronavirus cases reported daily for Hong Kong.  So, hopefully, the "second wave" that was largely the result of a number of infected residents returning from abroad -- where many of them had gone to escape the first wave of the Wuhan coronavirus onslaught -- has subsided to some extent.

 

Still, Hong Kong is not taking any chances, especially ahead of the upcoming long Easter holiday weekend; this not least since the total number of confirmed cases for the territory is now up to 960, with 25 new cases reported today.  Consequently, even while the likes of me do rue the extension of the period during which cinemas will be closed along with other entertainment outlets,  I, for one, am not complaining too much about this decision;  especially since the rulings now also have been extended to beauty salons and massage parlours (which, to my mind, should have been closed earlier than cinemas -- since them, the main activities that take place in those other facilities require one party going mask-less in the case of beauty salons and results in a lot of sweat being shed in the case of massage parlours!).

 

Another government measure that's actually welcomed by the majority of people in Hong Kong involves the two-week border shutdown that was due to end on Tuesday now having been extended indefinitely.  Actually, if people had their say, they'd make the measure stricter by also barring travellers from Mainland China  (which has had 81,802 reported cases of infection as of today, according to worldometer) entirely rather than just requiring them -- along with those arriving from Macau (45 confirmed cases in total) and Taiwan (379 total confirmed cases) -- to spend 14 days in compulsory quarantine.  

 

Should it not be clear, there are fears that there will be a third wave of Wuhan coronavirus infections; and that it will come -- like the first wave -- from Mainland China.   And, frankly, pictures of packed crowds of people -- not all of whom are wearing masks -- at the likes of Huangshan in recent days are not assuring people here in Hong Kong that the bulk of the people over in Mainland China have truly learnt the lessons of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.  

 

Consequently news that thousands have left Wuhan already in the early hours of today after the travel ban there was lifted is filling quite a few people here with fear since we really don't want Wuhan residents flooding into the city (even if it's to inject much-needed cash into the suffering Hong Kong economy).  Equally as unwelcome as the prospect of visitors from Wuhan and other parts of China inundating Hong Kong in the coming weeks is Carrie Lam remaining at the helm of Hong Kong's government. 

 

Okay, so the ridiculously well paid official has announced today that she and her cabinet will take 10 percent pay cuts for the next 12 months.  But that only came after she rejected bipartisan calls for her to turn down the super undeserved pay rise that she's been awarded: one that's increased her annual pay to a whopping HK$5.21 million!

To be sure, she's not the most highly paid head of government in the world.  That honor goes to Singapore's Lee Hsien Loong.  But consider that, among other things, that the Singaporean government is already looking ahead and planning for the food crisis that they anticipate will come about as the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic further progresses.  Put another way: even while not perfect, the Singaporean government does seem to be thinking several steps ahead of Hong Kong's and, also, in ways that are intended to self-guard its people.

 

Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government seems intent on continuing to persecute its people and making a mockery of Hong Kong's once much vaunted rule of law.  In recent days, we've seen such as a politician, already stripped of his Legislative Councillor status on a technicality, being found guilty of assaulting two riot police officers with his loudhailer during a standoff between the police and protesters last July; an accusation and conviction that brings to mind, for many, that of the young woman who was sentenced to three and half months of jail time for having assaulted a police officer with her breast a few years back.   

 

Also consider how absurd it is that even while Hong Kongers are helping the world to realize that face masks can help communities as well as individuals battle the Wuhan coronavirus, the Hong Kong government has been pushing ahead with its appeal to have the face covering ban it brought into effect last October upheld.  About as absurd, really, as the idea that Carrie Lam deserves the salary that she is being paid -- or, for that matter, that she absolutely has a place reserved for her in heaven like she has publicly stated she believes to be the case!