How lack of communication and equipment hampered work of Hong Kong medical workers in fifth wave

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As a medical student with frontline experience battling Covid-19, I wish to point out that, among the many blunders we have made in containing the pandemic, the failure to fully make use of Hong Kong’s existing medical forces is one we should not repeat.

Earlier this year, the old and frail were exposed to the elements while awaiting hospitalisation, making international headlines. Thankfully, community isolation facilities for geriatric care have been opened since then. Local medical schools also made a laudable effort to invite their students to staff those centres, assisting the regular healthcare professionals.

From my experience working there, such facilities go a long way in relieving the workload of the major hospitals. However, the help we could provide was limited in multiple preventable ways. Continuity of care was sometimes compromised because of insufficient communication between hospitals, isolation facilities and nursing homes so many cases had to be worked up from the beginning.

The lack of relatively basic equipment like an X-ray scanner also precluded many interventions, such as feeding tube placement. Thus, patients might be returned to the hospitals despite having only mild infections. The result was that the medical staff could not fully dedicate themselves to impactful patient care.

Make no mistake, the concerted effort of the city’s healthcare forces from frontline personnel to policymakers is helping to tame the fifth wave. However, when a new wave hits – and it will – making the most of what the city already has will be paramount.

Michael Yu Sze Hon, Tsuen Wan

Nonsensical flight bans causing anguish

Now that travel restrictions have eased, we were excited that our Hong Kong-born daughter would finally be able to return home from London for a family reunion after two years.

Finding a flight was the first step of Hong Kong’s version of Squid Game. Our beloved Cathay Pacific – our airline of choice for almost 40 years – was unavailable because of the unmanageable uncertainties arising from the flight suspension mechanism. After a fast and furious search with the clock ticking, we found a more expensive flight on Qatar Airways via Doha.

The next part of the game was to match the date of arrival with a quarantine hotel room. With that job done, all that remained was the filling of forms, making sure all the rules were followed. We all looked forward to the date of arrival with much excitement.

Then, on April 5, we learned that flights on that route will be banned from flying into Hong Kong for one week because three passengers out of probably close to 300 tested positive for Covid-19. Sadly, our daughter had to cancel the entire trip because finding replacement flights and alternative routes to match proved impossible and she is unable to significantly alter her dates of stay because of her own work commitments.

This “rule of three” is ridiculous. Why punish the poor airline that has no control over who tests positive upon arrival? Aren’t there enough beds in our isolation facilities to accommodate those who test positive? Most importantly, what about the mental and emotional trauma caused to Hong Kong families by the lengthy separation suffered so far and having one’s hopes dashed at the last moment like this?

Hong Kong’s version of Squid Game is causing cruel punishment to many and is illogical. I appeal to the government to end this rule and increase flight capacity before the game is truly over for Hong Kong.

Michael Hobson, Mid-Levels