Has Hong Kong let its guard down with coronavirus?

Fears have spread of a second wave of coronavirus cases in Hong Kong as the region is criticised for letting its guard down too early. 

As the territory suffers a new spike in virus infections, anger has broken out over whether the community is taking the outbreak seriously enough.

Despite its proximity to the Chinese mainland, the financial hub has managed to stave off a runaway outbreak of the deadly virus partly thanks to the public overwhelmingly embracing face masks, hand hygiene and social distancing.

But Hong Kong said today it was stopping all tourist arrivals and transit passengers at its airport and was considering suspending the sale of alcohol in some venues.

As the region suffers a new spike in coronavirus infections, anger has broken out over whether the community is taking the outbreak seriously enough. Pictured: people walk around the city today

Ahead of the city’s decision on Monday to ban non-residents from entering for two weeks, officials had reported the number of cases had more than doubled after locals and foreign residents flooded back once the pandemic spread to Europe and North America. 

The city government announced 39 new cases of coronavirus today, 30 of which had a recent travel history, bringing its total to 357. Four people have died of the disease in Hong Kong.  

The vast majority of new infections have been among Hong Kongers, with many students fleeing schools and universities overseas.

But the new spike coincided with local media publishing photos of bars and restaurants still packed with customers, especially in areas popular with those working for blue-chip companies.

That sparked fury among many who battened down the hatches during the initial outbreak and feared the hard work could come undone.

Last week Hong Kong ordered 14-days of self-quarantine for all overseas arrivals, but many were already isolating – or thought others should be more pro-active.

Gary Stokes, owner of Hemingway’s bar in the wealthy enclave of Discovery Bay, was furious to see some regulars returning from Europe believing they did not need to self-isolate.

Passengers wear suits and face masks to protect themselves from possibly contracting the coronavirus after arriving at the Hong Kong airport today 

‘They have this attitude of ‘Well, I’m ok, so not sure I need to.’ That to me is really dangerous,’ he told AFP.

After one customer bragged he should be in self-isolation, Stokes posted a warning on Facebook promising to alert police to anyone breaching the guidelines.

‘These expats decided to run when they didn’t like what was going on in Hong Kong, and then when it ends up in their countries they run back again,’ he said.

‘They’re not all bad, but there are some bad cookies among them.’

In addition, on March 2, after several weeks of working from home, the majority of Hong Kong’s 180,000 civil servants returned to work. 

Private employers, which have largely been taking their lead from the government, followed suit, and the city’s subway system suddenly became busy again.  

Health officials have become increasingly alarmed about people gathering in large numbers in the city’s entertainment districts in recent weeks.

The city government announced 39 new cases of coronavirus today, 30 of which had a recent travel history, bringing its total to 357

Last week, a slew of infections was found among patients who had all been out in Lan Kwai Fong, the city’s most famous nightclub street.

Hong Kong’s tabloids ran lurid pieces saying one of the infected patients who went to bars in Lan Kwai Fong, a local, may have had one night stands. 

Last week the Apple Daily newspaper carried a front-page photograph of a big group of foreigners drinking in the open while sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, causing outrage on social media.

Restaurant groups had urged the government to allow them to remain open.

The partial booze ban appears to be a compromise – a way to reduce the number of people socialising without ordering a complete shutdown of the already struggling food and drink industry. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk