Partners left disappointed after Hong Kong public hospitals bring back ban on delivery rooms to protect pregnant women amid Covid-19 surge

Fathers disappointed they cannot be with partners for babies’ arrival, as ban returned on February 16

Hospital Authority to review arrangements once Covid-19 situation improves, but for now it applies to all

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Partners have been banned from public hospital delivery rooms after health authorities reintroduced restrictions on February 16. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 2:10pm, 20 Feb 2022Updated: 6:01pm, 20 Feb 2022

Hong Kong resident Nick Jones was ready to be by his wife’s side on February 16 for the birth of their first child when he was told he could not be in the delivery room.

Faced with a surge in Covid-19 infections, the city’s public hospitals have reinstated a ban on partners being present for the birth of their babies.

Jones, 34, a British citizen who has lived in Hong Kong for four years, was disappointed because he and his wife had taken all precautions – both had received two jabs of a Covid-19 vaccine and had tested negative for a PCR test before going to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

While he understood the critical Covid-19 situation, the lack of information was frustrating and his wife was not told before going into labour that he would not be allowed to be present.

“For my wife to suddenly have that support taken away, it was a shock,” said Jones, who works in media.

His wife, 37, an entrepreneur, was on her own when she gave birth to a boy. Jones only saw his baby as the mother and child were being moved from the delivery ward.

“Seeing him for the first time was amazing, but it was also a bit chaotic as I was following this bed being wheeled rapidly between one ward and another,” Jones said.