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Written by: Commentary Editing Room
2021-01-30 07:00
Last update date: 2021-01-30 07:00
The government enclosed Dongfa Building in North Point from Thursday (28th) evening to Friday (29th), and residents and businesses must be subject to mandatory testing.
The enclosure was carried out three times in a week. This time, 475 people were tested and there were no positive cases.
In a post on social media, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor did not bluntly comment on whether the operation was successful, but said that it was "secret, focused and fast" and seemed satisfied.
The North Point operation did not record a positive result until Friday. It may be that the testing and quarantine work a few days ago contributed to the "clearing".
However, a zero-positive result does not rule out being affected by other factors, such as a sample that is false-negative, or the patient has left the building. The health department should pay close attention to the epidemic situation during these three days and arrange for further testing when necessary.
Must fight the virus
Needless to say, the implementation of the enclosure operation has indicated that the anti-epidemic work is lagging behind the spread of the virus, because there have been cases and concentrated occurrences in the enclosure.
The government can be said to be watching the outbreak in Jordan. Although it was gazetted on January 8 that No. 26, Reclamation Street was included in the list of mandatory tests, the virus spread without stopping. A total of 22 people were diagnosed in the building on January 17. The government finally enclosed the area on January 22.
Ho Pak-liang from the University of Hong Kong cited the case of Yau Ma Tei. Nos. 15-27 Pitt Street were included in the enclosure on the 26th. As early as the 19th, two confirmed cases were related to the Central Kowloon Route site group, which was later expanded to about 40 cases. It was confirmed that there was a difference of eight days before and after, and the mandatory test period had passed.
In contrast, although the time from the outbreak to the enclosure of Dongfa Building in North Point was relatively fast, the number of confirmed cases increased on the 25th, and the government decided to enclose it on the evening of the 28th. There was still a four-day difference between the two.
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Anti-epidemic work must precede the spread of the virus. In addition to the public's regular compliance with preventive measures and high-risk group testing, the government must strengthen community testing.
The Director of the Environment Bureau, Huang Jinxing, recently revealed that it will increase sewage monitoring capabilities, take more samples in higher-risk areas, and order more equipment. The direction is correct.
He Boliang from the University of Hong Kong went further and analyzed which of the "three no buildings" lacking building management are high-risk. If there is a confirmed case in a building, all residents of the building must complete mandatory testing within 24 hours, and the government should refer to it.
Assault is better than notified in advance
As the enclosure operation becomes the norm, the community discusses whether advance notice or surprise is more effective.
If the enclosure time is not more than 24 hours, so that it is concentrated in the evening, then assault operations are preferable.
This can prevent residents or employees from leaving within the notice period to evade detection, and reduce disruption to residents' work and life.
It must be admitted that surprises may not completely prevent evasion of detection or even the flow of hidden patients.
In buildings and communities where the number of infections is on the rise, and mandatory testing orders have been received, some residents may be worried about being infected, about being fenced off and obstructing get off work, or simply refusing to be tested, and other reasons to leave early.
In the two raids on Pitt Street/Tung On Street in Yau Ma Tei and Tung Fat Building in North Point, neighborhood and district councillors also witnessed residents dragging their luggage away. Government expert consultant Yuan Guoyong said bluntly that "it was so difficult."
However, if it is notified in advance, residents have a greater chance of considering staying, and surprise operations can better ensure that residents are tested.
Three buildings on Pitt Street and Tung On Street in Yau Ma Tei were sealed off in a "raid-attack" manner. In the early morning of January 27, personnel wearing protective clothing registered for public inspection on Pitt Street.
(Photo by Yu Junliang)
Three points of improvement
Of course, in order to make citizens more open to surprise detection and let go of the idea of leaving, the government must do its best to reduce the level of disturbance to the citizens and severely punish those who deliberately escape.
To reduce nuisance to the people, the government has taken some measures, such as preparing basic food and arranging on-site sampling. However, from the North Point example, there are three points that need improvement.
First, the government ensures that residents receive accurate information.
Although the government announced earlier that only those who received a short message or certificate would be exempted from being tested, some residents were dissatisfied that they had been tested on their own two days before because they had not received a negative result and had to be tested again.
Second, those who have been tested can lift the travel restrictions as scheduled.
Some residents claimed that they had completed the test at night and received a short message certificate, but the next morning, a seal indicating that they had not been tested was still posted outside their home.
Third, take care of non-building residents during the operation.
Some underground restaurant staff waited from night to midnight and there was no one to arrange testing. In the morning, staff from the Department of Health told them that they did not answer the door and issued a ticket to them.
If resident employees misunderstand the regulations for mandatory testing, government officials should improve the way they send out messages.
If it is a government employee who made a mistake in the course of the action, he must make corrections and apologize as soon as possible to avoid repeating the same mistakes in future actions.
On the night of January 24, in the closed area in Jordan, residents who have completed the test no longer have to ban their feet. If there are residents, they will lose their feet.
(Photo by Liang Pengwei)
Equally important, the government must severely punish those who fled without a reasonable explanation.
If resident employees deliberately do not take the test, there is a chance of spreading the virus.
The punishment is also fair to residents and employees who have been tested or staying in the building for several days. At the same time, they are wary of residents and employees who will be enclosed in the future to abide by the rules.
On the contrary, if a government official misses someone who is not tested, those people have the right to plead.
In general, surprise enclosing operations are more conducive to testing, but the process must be quick and clean to avoid disputes. Resident employees must receive adequate support and information during the testing period.
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