Editorial | Outbreaks at schools bode ill for flu season
- As Hong Kong continues to battle Covid-19 and thousands of students suffer respiratory infections, the public must remain vigilant and follow health rules
Hong Kong experienced a comparatively short flu season of about five weeks last winter. It passed relatively unnoticed amid a public health alert about the spread of Covid-19.
Health authorities put this down to compliance with anti-coronavirus measures such as face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing, since they can also protect against the influenza virus. Naturally, they are hoping for a repeat in the coming flu season. They take heart from the southern hemisphere winter flu season that has just passed.
Countries, including Australia and New Zealand, report that they did not experience flu epidemics but only sporadic cases during the usual peak from May to August, when the most intensive efforts were made to promote and enforce personal protective measures against the coronavirus.
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Hong Kong kindergartens to shut over respiratory infection outbreaks
Thousands of students are affected. Authorities have ordered kindergartens and childcare centres to close for two weeks. Schools are suspending lessons in affected primary classes.