It was very concerning to read the letter “ Fire alarm at quarantine hotel shows the need to spell out rules for possible emergencies ” (July 15), in which a hotel guest undergoing quarantine claimed they were given no instructions for how to act in the event of a fire risk. While the exact circumstances of this incident may be unclear, what is absolutely clear is that critical health and safety measures by hotels must be upheld even during a pandemic. Therefore, we urge the Department of Health to immediately make clear that those undergoing quarantine will not be penalised for leaving isolation in a genuine emergency, and to remind designated hotels of their responsibilities to ensure they have policies in place for those undergoing quarantine in the event of a fire alarm. This should include: 1) reassurance that, in the event of a genuine fire safety risk, those in quarantine are correct to immediately exit the building, and 2) a reminder that hotels should provide fire safety information appropriate for those undergoing quarantine, in order to avoid hesitation by guests. The Buildings Department’s Code of Practice for Fire Safety in Buildings, 2011, emphasises the essential importance of evacuation time and clear procedure: “Building management should provide an appropriately and effectively managed process to allow for orderly evacuation in case of fire.” Naturally, this process may require some special consideration with regard to quarantined guests. For instance, guests may be urged to leave and, if possible, continue to exercise appropriate social distancing. Cleaning measures may then be taken, and a particular staircase or exit may be used for such guests where possible. However, it should be absolutely clear that the first priority must be to ensure that guests are safe from any fire hazards. Notably, the government coronavirus website does not provide guidance for hotels or guests on what to do in the event of a fire risk. We suggest that the website be updated to make clear the appropriate actions that should be taken by guests in the event of an emergency, whether a fire risk or anything else that may incur possible risk of serious harm or even death. While this may seem obvious to some, the legal enforcement of Covid-19 measures, and risk of punishment, make it essential that the public are reassured that they will not be punished for taking evasive action in cases where they face genuine personal risks to their safety. This matter should be a reminder that good public health requires finding a balance between many different issues, and we cannot neglect broader issues of health and safety even during a pandemic. Edward Pinkney, president; and council members, HKU Public Health Alumni Society