Tired of the coronavirus? You’re not alone, and experts worry ‘pandemic fatigue’ is driving some in Hong Kong to ignore Covid-19 health advice, restrictions
- Frustrated by unending pandemic, some tire of washing hands, wearing masks, staying home
- Crisis fatigue is understandable, but experts warn people against letting down their guard
Dick Wong finds himself washing his hands less often and feels an increasing need to meet up with friends outside, despite knowing he should not.
The 28-year-old accountant says he is tired of the safety precautions in place since the coronavirus arrived in Hong Kong in January.
At the start, he was so afraid of being infected he went to great lengths to protect himself. He closely followed the news, changed his mask every four hours, and cleaned and disinfected his home every day, no matter how late he got home. He did not meet his friends for two months.
Now he feels burned out physically and mentally by the stress from his fear of infection, social isolation and changes in his routine.
Wong is dejected that all his efforts have failed to end the crisis. The pandemic has not only remained, but has also taken a turn for the worse in Hong Kong this month, with a surge in new cases.
“These days, I can barely muster the energy to do anything,” he says. “For months, I have been staying highly alert and taking all the necessary measures to protect myself from infection. That has severely worn me out.”