Local docs drive home universal message

Doctors in Hong Kong have joined a global movement by uploading pictures of themselves holding the slogan: "I stay at work for you. You stay at home for us."

Many participants are doctors at public hospitals who are urging people to avoid unnecessary social events and to wear masks when going out.

This comes as an increasing number of people go out for gatherings and drop the practice of wearing masks - dozens of them were observed by The Standard yesterday in Taikoo Shing and Tseung Kwan O shopping malls.

Despite Covid-19 being a pandemic, people have let their guard down compared to a month ago when almost everyone wore masks in public areas.

The pictures of local doctors renewing calls for people to stay home were uploaded by the Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association.

"The Covid-19 pandemic is worsening with a lot of new confirmed cases every day. Hospitals are facing a dire situation," the association wrote.

"Dear citizens, we hope you can maintain personal hygiene and avoid unnecessary activities and socializing. Wear a mask and wash your hands frequently."

The association also reminded those undergoing mandatory home quarantine to follow the rules and not to go out within the 14-day period.

Among the 15 pictures uploaded to the association's Facebook were two photos of infection control officer at Queen Mary Hospital Vincent Cheng Chi-chung and cardiologist at Tuen Mun Hospital Alfred Wong Yam-hong. Medical staff at the AsiaWorld-Expo, a testing area for travelers returning to Hong Kong with respiratory symptoms, also took pictures with signs bearing the same slogan.

They joined their overseas counterparts in Malaysia and the United States who shared similar images last week, amid a growing number of infections among health-care workers.

So far, no medical workers in Hong Kong has been infected. But frontline doctors and nurses have raised alarm at the dwindling stock of essential medical supplies.

The Hospital Authority said yesterday it has 24 million surgical masks, which can last two months. But its supply of N95 masks totaling 1.5 million could last just over a month.

Separately, Lam Tai-hing, University of Hong Kong's chair of community medicine, asked people to wear masks even at home to prevent infecting their cleaners or spreading the virus onto furniture.

Lam also encouraged people to use an extra pair of chopsticks when sharing dishes at home.

It is better for a person to divide the food for the rest of the diners, than for everyone to dig into a dish themselves, he said.

amy.nip@singtaonewscorp.com