I am a mainlander working in Hong Kong. I just participated in the local COVID-19 test on the 1st of this month. That day was also the first day that the SAR government launched the "Universal Community Testing Program". Although there are different opinions on this, I have been looking forward to it for a long time.
Due to work reasons, I did not go back to the mainland for a holiday this Spring Festival, and I couldn't go back because of the epidemic prevention policy. I originally hoped that the SAR government could "switch on and off" as soon as possible. However, the epidemic in Hong Kong suddenly broke out in the past two months. During the peak period, there were more than 100 confirmed cases every day. . Although we now rely on the efforts of all parties to reduce the number of cases and maintain it at around 10 cases a day, everyone understands that we will not be at ease if we don't clear them every day.
For this general inspection, I made an appointment through a mobile phone link. I only need an ID card and a mobile phone number, choose a convenient inspection point and time period, and the appointment will be successful in two or three minutes. Some time ago, a Hong Kong opposition claimed that citizens lined up to take samples at the testing center. If there are invisible patients in the crowd, it is easy for the testers to be "successful", but I am willing to expose these lies with my own experience.
At 10:30 on the 1st of this month, I came to the Tsuen Wan Stadium, and it was my turn to check my identity in 10 minutes. There are more than ten testing rooms temporarily built in the hall, separated from each other. There are only more than 20 citizens waiting to be sampled, and their seats are more than 1 meter apart. I think that compared to the busy flow of people on the street, the probability of cross-infection in the stadium is much smaller. In the entire hall, all staff wear protective clothing, masks, face shields and gloves. After sampling a citizen, the nurse will change the gloves. The theory of cross-infection is self-defeating.
I am ashamed. Before I came to the test, I was most worried about the test method-a mixed swab of the nose and throat. I heard from my friends that the throat swab is relatively simple. The cotton swab is stirred deep in the throat a few times, but the accuracy is slightly worse; the nasal swab is more accurate, but the process is very sour. Use a soft stick to penetrate deep into the nostril. It is an unspeakable feeling to cry involuntarily. When
was thinking about it, it was my turn. The nurse nurse gently reminded me that I would be a little uncomfortable. She gave two tissues and suggested that you can cover your mouth and nose if you sneeze. Then she inserted a cotton swab into her nostril and stirred it in the depths a few times. I didn't seem to insert it into the deepest part of the nasal cavity. I felt uncomfortable but tolerable. It took 1 minute for
to complete the sampling of the two nasal cavities and throat. When they leave, the staff will also present the "One Heart Anti-epidemic" mask prepared by the SAR government. The whole test feels safe, convenient and fast to me, and there is no need to worry about personal privacy. If the result is negative, then I will receive a text message within 3 days. If it is positive, the Health Protection Center will call to inform and follow up in time.
This "general inspection", I would prefer to call it the Hong Kong version of "national inspection". The government has set up 141 testing centers in 18 districts in Hong Kong to make adequate preparations. Although I think it is long overdue, under the current social environment, it is not easy for the central government's assistance to be successfully implemented by the SAR government. Think about it at this time last year, Hong Kong was raging.
By the evening of the 1st, more than 600,000 citizens had made appointments for general inspections. But there are some friends around me who are concerned about this, thinking that there is no need to test their health, and going out once will increase the risk. Some citizens are also affected by various voices. Some health care providers whose interests have been impaired by hoarding testing reagents encourage citizens to refuse to participate in the general inspection, saying that the samples will be "sent", the risk of infection is high, and the test is meaningless.
At least my experience is that in the context of a global pandemic, no one can survive alone. As a member of the city, taking the initiative to participate in the test is not only responsible for oneself, but also for the society. The SAR government does not collect any money for testing. The purpose is simple. It is to screen out hidden patients as much as possible and cut off the chain of community transmission. This effort is obvious. As citizens, we must understand and cooperate.
I think this is actually a good opportunity for Hong Kong to restart. It is in everyone's vital interests. Because of the epidemic, especially the third wave of outbreaks in these two months, customs clearance has become a distant future. As long as the epidemic is not effectively controlled, social life cannot be lifted. Catering and tourism are greatly affected. Needless to say, many companies in Hong Kong are laying off employees. Teachers of some counseling classes, training classes, and fitness classes cannot start classes. There has been no income for several months. In Hong Kong, it is "stopping hands and mouths", and the government's assistance plan is only a drop in the bucket, and the livelihood of some citizens has become a major problem. Looking at Macau has returned to normal, the mainland has beenI took off my mask and started the fireworks again. I was so anxious.
On the afternoon of the 1st, the Centre for Health Protection of the Special Administrative Region announced that there were 12 new confirmed cases in Hong Kong that day, of which 9 were local infections, 8 were related to previous cases, and the source of 1 was unknown. In the past few days, I am persuading my colleagues and old friends to go for testing, for myself, for my family, and also for Hong Kong, so that cases of unknown origin will be eliminated as soon as possible, waiting for the day when Hong Kong will resume social and economic activities. Personally, I can cross the shallow Shenzhen River and see friends and family members who have been separated for more than half a year.
column editor: Hong Junjie text editor: Hong Junjie
Source: Author: Li Bai
