Hong Kong government to give residents reusable mask as Covid-19 precautions loosen
- Officials say they are in the final stages of a roll-out to give the city's 7.5 million people free masks.
- Hong Kong's health adviser has suggested reviewing the public-gathering ban but says border controls should be lifted last.
The government announced a plan to send every Hong Kong resident a washable, reusable mask soon. Every Hong Kong resident will get a reusable, washable mask from the government as the city turns a corner in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic and starts gradually opening up and easing some social-distancing measures.
While health authorities reported another day with zero new Covid-19 infections, the Innovation and Technology Bureau on Sunday said preparations were in the final stage for the citywide distribution of masks to a population of 7.5 million.
The scheme, to be rolled out within days, was first revealed by prominent microbiologist Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, who said they could be washed up to 60 times for reuse and delivered to residents as early as next week.
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A bureau spokesman said the masks had been developed and produced locally using the government’s anti-epidemic fund.
“The goal is that every member of the public can have a durable and reusable face mask,” the spokesman said. “Preparation work has entered the final stage.”
A government source said all residents with a Hong Kong ID card and a local address were eligible for the scheme, and there would be more than enough reusable masks “for each Hongkonger”.
“All the masks are newly manufactured. Production started in March,” the source added.
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People can register online and have the masks mailed to their homes. “The government doesn’t want mass gatherings to collect the items,” another source said.
In a television interview, Yuen said: “I think it is a benevolent policy, because it is difficult to buy masks for many people.”
The giveaway plan emerged as Hong Kong had no new Covid-19 infections on Sunday, the second day in a row, after the previous five-day streak was broken last Friday. The city’s run of zero new local infections now stands at 14 days, with the total at 1,039, including four deaths.
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But health officials have said the pandemic could only be considered under control if no new cases were reported for at least one or two incubation periods, meaning a fortnight to a month.
Yuen said the masks could be distributed next week and would come with replaceable filters. He said the city had battled the pandemic to a “truce”, but warned against complacency.
“We can be said to have won the first battle,” he said. “But we cannot be prideful during this period. We must make all preparations for a possible second wave in the winter.”
Yuen, who advises the city’s leader on Covid-19, also urged people not to bank on the availability of a vaccine, cautioning that the side effects remained unknown at this stage.
“I urge people not to have too much hope in a vaccine, because there has not been large-scale vaccination of humans for the coronavirus,” he said. “If you’re asking whether I would take a vaccine now, I wouldn’t. I’ll rely on masks.”
On a bright, sunny day, as Hongkongers flocked to beaches and country parks, Yuen said the ban on public gatherings of more than four was no longer enforceable and should be reviewed.
“You can see that restaurants and malls are crowded, even the country parks,” he said.
But he added that border control policies to reduce the number of travellers should be the last to be lifted.