The COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong is out of control, and public hospitals have insufficient beds and rooms for isolation measures. Recently, many citizens have not been arranged to be admitted to hospitals after being diagnosed with the disease. They can only stay at home and wait for notification. There is even a situation where one confirmed patient infects all family members.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said this morning (15th) that more entire hotels will be identified as isolation facilities, providing thousands to 10,000 hotel rooms.
Cui Dingbang, director general of the Tourism Promotion Association, revealed that the current occupancy rate of quarantine hotels is only 20-30%, and at least 7,000 hotel rooms can be supplied at any time.
He also pointed out that not all hotels can become quarantine hotels and must comply with various government regulations.
Yiu Pak-leung, a member of the Legislative Council for the tourism industry, estimated that practitioners may not be responsible for the front-line work. He believes that if the government provides support, the hotel industry can be attracted to participate.
Only the trade union pointed out that if the hotel is converted into an isolation hotel, all the residents will be patients, and the risk of infection will greatly increase for employees.
▼1.16 Yuan Guoyong went to Silka Seaview Hotel to investigate▼
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The government is discussing with the industry to switch to 44 quarantine hotels to isolate patients
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said today that it will look for more whole-building hotels to be used as isolation facilities for a long time.
At present, 8 to 9 hotels are used for quarantine purposes, but home quarantine is on track, so this batch of hotels will gradually be converted into community isolation facilities.
However, Lam also pointed out that since the number of rooms is still not enough, it will not be discussed on a hotel-by-hotel basis. Tomorrow, he will work with the entire hotel industry to formulate a plan to provide thousands to 10,000 hotel rooms.
Yao Bailiang Hotel staff may not be responsible for frontline work
The latest round of quarantine hotels saw 44 participating hotels.
Yao Pak-leung, a member of the Legislative Council of the tourism industry, said that after the fifth wave of the outbreak, the lag in test results and the shortage of hospital beds have made citizens increasingly complaining, and hope that the government will deal with the isolation measures as soon as possible.
However, even if the mainland government comes to Hong Kong to assist in the construction of makeshift hospitals, it will take some time, so the existing quarantine hotels are a good solution.
He believes that if the government provides sufficient support, the hotel industry can be attracted to participate and the pressure on the practitioners to fight the epidemic can be relieved.
He estimated that the government may send staff to the relevant hotel management, and hotel practitioners may not be responsible for the front-line work.
Quarantine hotel occupancy rate is only 20% to 30%
Cui Dingbang, director general of the Tourism Promotion Association, revealed that since the government launched the circuit breaker mechanism last month, the number of people returning to Hong Kong has dropped significantly. The current occupancy rate of quarantine hotels is only 20-30%, and it is estimated that at least 7,000 hotel rooms can be supplied at any time. , "It can be used in a short period of time." However, he revealed that not all hotels can become quarantine hotels and must comply with government regulations.
In addition to the most basic negative pressure rooms, independent ventilation systems, and air purifiers, hotels must have sufficient staff and employees must receive training; in addition, hotels that share elevator lobbies with office buildings or hotels that provide serviced residences cannot meet the requirements. .
▼On February 15th, citizens rushed to buy drugs and food▼
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Union says quarantine hotel employees are at increased risk of infection and advocates improving working conditions
Chen Zijie, secretary of the Federation of Trade Unions of Catering and Hotel Industry, pointed out that in the past, the quarantine hotel only quarantined people returning to Hong Kong, and not all residents were diagnosed with the disease; if it was changed to a quarantine hotel, all residents would be patients, and the risk of infection for employees would greatly increase.
He pointed out that the quarantine hotel employees have been hoping to improve the working environment, such as setting up independent elevators, but the authorities have not dealt with them.
When asked if he would ask for a salary increase, he replied, "I don't think it's easy to think about it. I don't have a job, I don't have an unpaid leave." The practitioners at work are already in a state of indifference.
Epidemic ｜ More than 100 doctors and nurses contracted the disease, a record high in a single day, 3-year-old girl is still in critical condition in ICU Quarantine facilities set up primary community medical facilities Epidemic｜Shi Yongqing confirmed that someone in the residence has been diagnosed, and it is unknown when they can leave the quarantine hotel Epidemic｜A large number of positive patients failed to be admitted to the hospital The authorities set six points to recommend high fever and palpitations before calling 999