Letters | Coronavirus in Hong Kong: why we need clear quarantine guidelines for little ones
- The threat of child separation can have a devastating impact on the mental health of the whole family. There should be standard guidelines on when children have to be sent to a government quarantine centre, to hotel quarantine or self-isolation
Families in Hong Kong are fearful of what will happen should someone in their family test positive, or if one of them is deemed a close contact of a positive Covid-19 patient. There is no standard guideline adopted by the Centre for Health Protection as of yet to deal with the situation concerning children, as it will be decided case by case.
Doctor Charles Brantley, general practitioner from Central Health Medical Practice, told us that they have seen examples of how the threat of child separation can have a devastating impact on the mental health of the whole family. Many of their most resilient patients who are normally calm in a crisis or medical situation have found themselves anxious about what will happen to their children should someone in the family test positive.
Doctor Melissa Ortega Giglio, a clinical psychologist specialising in children and adolescents, is herself quarantining in Hong Kong with her three children. She said to us that having regular carers present with the children during this stressful time is critical to reduce the traumatic effects.
The same concern was shared with us by Dr Sarah Borwein at Central Health Medical Practice, who said that there are a lot of rumours floating around, and the biggest issue is actually the lack of communication.
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Inside Hong Kong's mandatory coronavirus quarantine camp at Penny's Bay