Epidemic prevention cannot be perfunctory, otherwise Hong Kong will lose

Earlier, there were no local infection cases in Hong Kong for more than two consecutive months. Some citizens have complained about why the government has tightened epidemic prevention measures, including expanding the scope of mandatory use of "travel with peace of mind," and requiring citizens to be vaccinated against the new crown.

With the recent imminent risk of community transmission, citizens who were previously puzzled should also understand the importance of strict epidemic prevention.

The transmission chain of the new coronavirus Omicron may have developed along two lines in Hong Kong.

A 44-year-old cabin attendant failed to abide by the rules of his Cathay Pacific Airways. After returning to Hong Kong, he went out to eat with his family. In addition to his father’s infection, a worker on the same site on a different platform was also diagnosed.

In addition, another crew member was initially positive after returning to Hong Kong, and he had gone to the Central Bar before being diagnosed.

The variant virus strain Omicron spreads faster. Liang Zichao, a respiratory specialist, pointed out that the risk of airborne transmission in restaurants is higher. It is possible that many people were exposed to the virus environment without being tested that day, and there may be a community outbreak.

Use peace of mind to travel and get vaccinated

There are more gatherings of citizens around the Christmas holidays, and the risk of transmission is indeed higher.

Fortunately, "Travel with peace of mind" has been compulsory in all restaurants since December 9. It helps the health authorities to track people and contacts on the same site, conduct testing and quarantine as soon as possible, and reduce the possibility of social transmission.

On the other hand, since more than 70% of the citizens have been vaccinated against the new crown, once a citizen is diagnosed, the condition may be milder and will not cause a heavy burden on the hospital.

From the recent development of the epidemic, it can be seen that the risk of the new crown virus flowing into the community is unpredictable, and tracking infection and vaccination are always the best measures.

There are still sporadic news reports that some citizens have not used "Travel with peace of mind" when entering and leaving designated places, or even used false vaccination documents.

They should understand that this not only breaks the law, but also increases the risk of spreading in the event of an infection.

Once the community breaks out, the cost is high

Just like aircrews, although they are exempted by the government from quarantine laws, they are also regulated by airline guidelines. After returning to Hong Kong, they should quarantine themselves to avoid spreading the virus during the incubation period.

For recreational gatherings or personal convenience, once the diagnosis is confirmed and spread afterwards, the ultimate cost will be borne by the whole society.

The tightening of the statutory quarantine restrictions for crew members will inevitably affect flight operations. Passengers, airlines, employees, and the general public all lose out.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day holidays fall on the weekends, and it is expected that many people will gather with relatives and friends.

If you relax for a while and ignore the need for epidemic prevention, it will be difficult to guarantee that there will be another case of infection next week, or even an outbreak in the community.

Europe and the United States can learn from the past, and the single spark of a variant virus can start a prairie fire.

The only thing that can be done is to prevent the gradual failure of the disease, be prepared for danger in times of peace, and prevent the epidemic from having a chance to germinate.

Prioritize epidemic prevention before easing government employees' acceptance of "vaccine bubbles" can serve as a model for society. Closed-loop quarantine of crew members can no longer be delayed