Opinion | Sick of social distancing in Hong Kong? The elderly have it worse, and they need help

Name: Why has Hong Kong been hit so hard by the Covid-19 fifth wave?
Uploaded: 2022-03-29T22:45:12.000Z
Duration: 7 min 29 s
Description: Why has Hong Kong been hit so hard by the Covid-19 fifth wave?

Depression among elderly Hongkongers seems to have reached crisis level amid the fifth wave

Despite the social distancing restrictions in place, people could be more sensitive to older adults’ emotional needs and reach out to them more

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An elderly couple wearing masks use a footbridge in Hong Kong on March 20. Stringent social distancing measures have upended daily routines. Photo: AP

Paul Yip

Published: 6:45am, 30 Mar 2022

There were 14 cases of reported suicides among those aged 61 and above within a recent seven-day period in Hong Kong, against an average of around three per week in the past year. This exceeded the crisis level on the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention’s early warning system for the first time since it was launched in 2020.

The sudden spike is a serious wake-up call about mental wellness, especially that of older adults. The pandemic has already brought anxiety, sadness and anger, not to mention feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.

Amid the Omicron wave, news of the high fatality rate among unvaccinated seniors, and of the overwhelmed health system, has made the situation worse. It was reported that some of the elderly suicide cases had tested positive for Covid-19.

Stringent social distancing measures, including the closure of public libraries and swimming pools, have upended daily routines. No more than two families can gather in private premises; restaurants allow tables of only two diners and close at 6pm; no visitors are allowed in elderly care homes. Such restrictions have eaten into social support for many older adults and added to their sense of isolation.

Across Hong Kong, scenes of long waits in accident and emergency departments have been very unsettling. All in all, with the Omicron outbreak and following two years of on-off pandemic measures, Hongkongers’ mental wellness has deteriorated – and in several cases, to the point of breakdown.

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Why has Hong Kong been hit so hard by the Covid-19 fifth wave?

It is something of a relief that the city has put the brakes on universal testing and planned lockdowns, and that some social distancing measures will be relaxed from April 21. The flight ban on nine countries will be been lifted, and Hong Kong residents overseas will be able to come home for family reunions, which are important for older adults’ wellness.