Letters | Coronavirus outbreak needs Hong Kong to take decisive action, face masks included

The epidemiological triangle of host, agent and environment could help people understand how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. An infectious agent must be capable of infecting a host, who then develops an infection. This also depends on whether the environment is favourable for its survival and transmission, and the susceptibility of the host.

The biggest challenge for public health practice is that some of the most important public health measures have to be taken outside the health sector by those responsible for economic and social policy, such as politicians, educators, industrialists and economists. Ensuring an adequate supply of face masks is a good example of this. Therefore, the government needs to take on a decisive role at this critical moment.

Under most circumstances, the WHO tends to make use of scientific evidence and professional solutions relating to many deep-seated global health problems by adopting “soft” laws in the forms of guidelines or recommendations, instead of hard, binding international agreements involving interstate negotiation. This allows member states to adopt and adapt according to local circumstances.

Some scholars have criticised the WHO’s reluctance to create binding norms. Soft law leaves application of the recommendations to the discretion of policymakers. Decision-makers should adopt fair procedures that are reasonable and appropriate to the particular circumstances, so any fair-minded person informed of the circumstances would arrive at a similar decision.

Facing the serious threat of potential massive outbreaks of infectious diseases, and before a breakthrough in treatment and vaccine development, all effective measures should be given adequate consideration notwithstanding cost-effectiveness.

Albert Lee, professor in Public Health and Primary Care; director, Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion; Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin