In view of the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic, about 360 residential homes for the elderly in Hong Kong have been affected.
An establishment source revealed that the government is studying the rapid introduction of about 2,000 health workers from the mainland to Hong Kong and stationed in nursing homes for the elderly, in order to stabilize and control the current situation that is on the verge of getting out of control.
▼The construction of the makeshift hospital aided by the mainland has started▼
Two sources have separately confirmed that they are looking into the plans
The Chief Executive in Council passed this Wednesday (24th), in response to the current public health emergency, by citing the "Emergency Act", "to allow the government to exempt certain persons or projects from statutory requirements such as licensing, registration and application, etc., This will enable the SAR government to utilize the support and resources of the mainland more flexibly and swiftly when necessary, and carry out key epidemic prevention and anti-epidemic projects at full speed, with a view to enhancing Hong Kong's epidemic prevention and control capabilities in a short period of time to control the fifth wave of the epidemic."
Another source close to the Hong Kong government said that he acknowledged that the government is studying the relevant plan and has a good chance of implementing it in the short term, but he is not clear about the number of mainland health workers introduced, and the legal basis should also be citing the "Emergency Law".
In other words, health workers are expected to be regarded as "exempt certain persons" to assist Hong Kong in combating the severe outbreak in residential care homes for the elderly as soon as possible.
Currently, health workers need to be registered in accordance with the Residential Care Homes Regulations. As of the beginning of 2019, there were 23,662 registered health workers in Hong Kong.
However, with the outbreak of the fifth wave of the epidemic, residential care homes for the elderly have been "recruited" one after another. As of Wednesday (23rd), more than 360 residential care homes had reported cases, involving 420 employees, and more than 1,100 residents had confirmed, preliminary or rapid test results. positive.
Di Zhiyuan: No one in the hospital applied for "Healing a Life"
Di Zhiyuan, a member of the Legislative Council from the social welfare sector, pointed out that on weekdays, residential care homes for the elderly are already short of manpower. Although private residential care homes can hire foreign personnel, there is no such arrangement for subsidized residential care homes.
He said that the fifth wave of the epidemic broke out recently. Staff or residents of many residential homes were infected with the disease, and more manpower was needed to deal with it. Willing to apply, "I want to invite no one."
Regarding the invitation of mainland health workers to come to Hong Kong, Di Zhiyuan said that it is acceptable in such an emergency situation, but he believes that two conditions are required. One is that the relevant personnel must have sufficient professional knowledge, and the other is that it is only an emergency at present. After the epidemic subsided, he successfully retired.
Di Zhiyuan believes that in the long run, it is necessary to review the manpower problem of residential care homes for the elderly, and consider subsidizing residential care homes for the elderly that can also hire staff outside Hong Kong.
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