The third -- and most serious to date -- Wuhan coronavirus wave in Hong Kong

An extra cautious police officer in a part of Hong Kong

that has recently recorded Wuhan coronavirus cases

Way more chilled people in a part of the city where at least

 one office has suspected Wuhan coronavirus cases among its staffers

The nomination period for September's Legislative Council elections opened today, the day after Hong Kong's legislative body's tumultous sixth term came to an end yesterday.  It remains to be seen though which, and how many, of the candidates put forward by various political parties will be allowed to actually run for office; with there being much speculation -- even expectation -- that many of the winners of last weekend's democratic primaries (including incumbent Legislative Councillors like Roy Kwong, Eddie Chu Hoi-dick and Ray Chan) will be disqualified pretty much right from the start by the returning officers assigned to the task. 

When that happens, further fuel will be added to Hong Kong's political fire.  And it shouldn't go unnoticed that one of the democratic hopefuls, Tam Tak-chi, was arrested yesterday on one of those ridiculous "incitement to take part in an unlawful assembly" charges.  Also, that, also yesterday, the police went once again onto the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) -- this time to search its student union office and seized computers from there; apparently because they suspect members of the university's archery club of having attacked them during the siege of PolyU last November.

For now though, much attention has turned back to the Wuhan coronavirus -- which has been with us since January, and whose third wave has now hit Hong Kong with a vengeance.  This is not least since today, Hong Kong recorded 64 new Wuhan coronavirus infections (bringing the current tally to 1,777) and one more death (to bring the total now up to 12).  In doing so, the territory passed a sad milestone: the total number of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases recorded in the territory (1,755; back in 2003-2004).

Since Wednesday, the territory's most sweeping social distancing restrictions have been in force in a bid to stem the Wuhan coronavirus tide in Hong Kong.  While it's (still) far from the kind of lockdown that the likes of hard hit Italy and worried Malaysia have endured for a time, it has reinforced for many the notion that the situation we're currently in is a serious one.  In short: we need to really buckle down to control this terrible thing which Hong Kong had managed to keep out of elderly care homes and kept from infecting any medical personnel until this month.

While walking in my old neighborhood earlier today, I caught sight of a police officer dressed unusually.  Not only was he not in riot gear but he also was wearing the kind of plastic face shield and latex gloves that I'm expect more to see on medical personnel along with the now pretty standard surgical mask.  Seeing an ambulance driving away from the scene, I surmised that he had been called to the scene of a (suspected) coronavirus case; which, if confirmed, would make for there being a cluster of them in that particular area (since at least one case has recently been reported there).

Since they had their office nearby, I decided to drop in and say "hi" to a couple of friends who work but don't live in the area.  Over the course of our conversation, the pair conveyed to me their fear of being close to what might end up being declared a coronavirus "hot spot" by telling me that they no longer dare to eat takeout food from, as well as in, eateries in the area!  Instead, they've been bringing their lunches from home and going straight home for dinner; neither of which were all that usual practices for them.

In contrast, there are people who still don't seem to think twice about going out drinking and socializing as well as for meals and pretty much everything else besides.  I honestly hadn't realized this until I walked passed by the section of Central near the Discovery Bay and Park Island ferry piers a couple of days ago and saw a bunch of people hanging out in close proximity to one another, and mask-less too because they were there to drink as well as socialize!

Something else I had not expected to see was that the bar located in the area was still operating (since bars are among the establishments that have been ordered to close for at least one week starting this past Wednesday).  I am guessing that it's less because they're classified as a restaurant because they do serve food as well as drinks and more because they're considered a takeaway place.  

Frankly, if they were closed, those wanting a drink in the area could just go the stores in the ferry piers that sell alcohol along with snacks and other sundry items.  Still, I must admit my surprise that those unconcerned waterfront drinkers appear to have escaped the criticism of the likes of the bars and bar patrons of Peel Street back in March, when the onset of the second coronavirus wave was associated with bar goers -- and the attention of the authorities too! 

Rather, this time around, the newsmakers are those who refuse to wear their masks on public transportation -- as is now the required case.  This is particularly so since some of those who have refused to do so have pulled out weapons when asked to put on masks (for the protection of themselves and others)!  A question: what kind of person carries a cleaver onto a bus, never mind would wield it at police officers called to the scene as well as his fellow passengers and the bus driver?  And what too of the first man arrested for not wearing a mask on public transportation -- who "happened" to have a wooden pole with him to threaten people with while on the MTR?! 

For those readers of this blog who don't live in Hong Kong: please trust me when I tell you that it's really not normal for Hong Kongers to carry weapons of any sort with them at pretty much all times!  Hence my wondering if those anti-mask men are the same category of people as those who appeared outside an MTR station last September and attacked pro-democracy protestors with foldable stools as well as long sticks, and their fists and feet!