Is closing schools the right move amid the flu outbreak?
The closure of the schools might have been a bit sudden, but it is one of the most effective ways to break the chain of spread during a flu outbreak. The community should be more appreciative of prevention measures during an outbreak.
We should learn from the 2003 Sars epidemic. The official response was too slow and Sars spread into the community and claimed almost 300 lives. It is better late than never. Companies and communities should be more understanding when something like this happens and make the necessary arrangements, so parents can look after their children if schools are closed. Maintaining the mental well-being of the community during the period of an outbreak is as important as curbing the outbreak itself. Full support should be given to the officials whose job it is to carry out their tasks diligently.
Paul Yip, Pok Fu Lam
I urge those who criticised the government's decision to close schools to appreciate that things happen for a reason.
What if they waited for one day, so they had enough time to inform everyone, and things had got out of control? Then people would be blaming them for not acting faster.