Mainlanders in lockdown hit out at beach-going Hongkongers

Mainlanders in lockdown hit out at beach-going Hongkongers Mainland citizens hit out at some Hongkongers who go to the beach or hike amid the coronavirus outbreak in the SAR, increasing the risk of infection and burdening an overstretched medical workforce.

As the Shenzhen authorities ordered a week-long citywide lockdown after a surge in Covid-19 cases, mainland netizens complained about Hongkongers heading to the beach amid warmer weather on Weibo -- the Chinese version of Twitter.

“Shenzhen and Hong Kong are both being threatened by the severe pandemic situation, but I am so angry that Hong Kong citizens are ignoring the risks and could not hold back their excitement to ‘cool themselves down’ at the beach,” a mainland netizen said.

Shenzhen authorities have already banned all dine-in services and requested all citizens to stop all unnecessary activities, the netizen said.

His sentiment was echoed by many other mainland netizens, slamming Hongkongers for ignoring their own safety and public health, and only caring about their own enjoyment.

“Hong Kong citizens should reflect on themselves,” a netizen said, while others added: “Can they treasure the contribution made by medical workers?”

Apart from going to the beach, some Hongkongers also opted to go for a hike amid the warm weather. However, this has given rise to more hikers seeking help from authorities recently, fireman in Hong Kong said.

The fireman wrote on Facebook that he received dozens of hikers seeking assistance from the Fire Services Department. “We are already experiencing a shortage of hands within the department to carry out anti-epidemic work,” the fireman said.

“Don’t ask us why we are not in a good mood when we arrive at the scene.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Health Protection's head of communicable disease branch, Chuang Shuk-kwan, said  she noticed people started going out again, and warned the SAR is still facing high infection numbers.

“I hope people can stick with social distancing measures and refrain from going out,” she said.