#HealthCrisis #SupplyShortage
Medical Resource Shortage in Hong Kong: Hospital Staff Forced to Use Less Masks, Drink Less Water and Limit Bathroom Breaks

It had become clearer by the day that Hong Kong public hospitals are low on protective gear for its staff, especially in N95 masks, surgical masks and hazmat suits.

Medical workers on the frontline in Hong Kong revealed that the North District Hospital requested the Hospital Authority (#HA) for more of the 1870+ N95 masks, yet the HA had yet to replenish their supplies. Since the 1870+ masks fit most staffers, they ran out really quickly. Most workers thus had to use other models which did not fit snuggly on their faces, which had potential problems like air leakage or being too tight on the nose, all of which are crucial in ensuring maximum protection.

Currently, Tuen Mun Hospital only allowed phlebotomists to use one mask per day, in order to save the little supplies they have got left. This caused some staff members to drink less water and limit their bathroom breaks so they don't have to change their protective wear.

The Hospital Workers' union were concerned about the lack of protective gear supply and how that would endanger the staff and patients and increase the chance of contamination.

Thousands of medical workers went on a 5-day-strike last week to get the government to close the borders, as well as to request the Hospital Authority to publish the numbers of protective gear they have in stock, in order to make sure frontline staffers have enough of what they need to protect themselves and the patients. The Department of Food and Hygiene and Hospital Authority claimed on the 6th Feb that they have enough supplies to last three months but refused to publish actual numbers. On the 8th Feb, soon after the strike was halted, the HA then overturned their previous claim, stating that there were only 1 month worth of surgical masks left.

The Hospital Authority Employee Alliance (#HAEA) questioned how the number of supplies can drop from 3 months to 1 month in merely 2 days, and whether the HA was attempting to deceive their staff.

Source: CNews
#Feb10 #ChinesePneumonia #HospitalAuthority #FaceMasks #HongKongMedics

Winnie Yu Wai-ming - from frontline nurse to logistics staff and the Chairwoman of the Hospital Authority Employees Alliance (HAEA)

“I’m really sorry. I am a chairwoman who always cries. I also don’t want to be like this,” said Winnie as tears kept rolling down her face during the interview. Winnie talked about the support from her colleagues and the difficulties facing medical workers. She could not hold back her tears after seeing colleagues draw lots for the “dirty team” work; to be isolated after fulfilling their duties; and even writing their last will and testament as they prepared for the worst. Feeling worried and anxious, she empathized with these colleagues. She also worked as a frontline nurse before, with seven years of experience in intensive care.

Continue

#strike #HAEA

#FailedState #CoronavirusOutbreak
Silver-Hair Community Demands Carrie Lam To Answer the Whereabouts of Prisoner-Made Masks: Carrie Lam Adminstration is Scarier Than Coronavirus

Source: Stand News #Feb12

#CivilTourismBoard

Mishtar Life Style

Photo Album: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17126

Mishtar Life Style was established in 2010. The idea of its handicraft is mainly inspired by the combination of diverse ethnic designs. American Indians’ culture of blessing is the most profoundly manifested. American Indians would send different blessings to their friends and loved ones. We hope everyone can have a moment of peace and happiness, as well as a dream to embrace freedom amid the storm in Hong Kong, where it is full of social unrest and fear.

“Mishtar” is a Hebrew word which means power and rules. The shop owners, Tam and Mike, hope to create unlimited possibilities on the road of creation, so that people can notice more joy in their lives from the handicrafts they made, and bring out the possibility of touching other people’s lives. From craft-making to chitchat and tea tasting, they are glad to be Hong Kongers’ companions, so people will not have to feel lonely.

Dreamcatchers and various ethnic decorations are the main features in Mishtar Life Style. Dreamcatchers are gifts given by American Indians to their families. They would knit strings into a web by themselves, hoping to dispel the negative influences in their family members’ dreams, and finally make room for sweet dreams.

The owners hope that people will notice more joy in their lives and, as a result, spread and promote American Indians’ culture of blessing. Therefore, their handicrafts are made with materials which are full of ethnic motifs, with many of those made of natural materials such as driftwood, coral stones and branches. They also incorporate interesting stuff collected on their trips into their handicrafts to present a unique and exotic style.

文：子虛
圖：漫漫

Mishtar Life Style於2010年成立，手作製品主要概念來自民族及多元化的設計融合，其中印第安人的祝福文化最為深刻，他們會為朋友和至親送上不同的祝福，希望大家在現今動盪不安和人心惶惶的香港裡，也能夠有著安穩和幸福的一刻，並有著一個從風雨中懷抱自由的夢。

"Mishtar"一詞來自希伯來文，意思指的是權力及規則，店舖的老闆Tam 和 Mike希望在創作路上做出無限的可能，透過作品令人更多留意到生活中的樂趣，帶出生命影響生命的可能，每位同路人也不需要感到孤單，從手工製作到品茶聊天，他們也樂意與香港人相伴。

Mishtar Life Style主要作品為捕夢網和各種民族飾物，捕夢網是印第安人送給家人的禮物，憑藉親手用線編織的網，驅散睡夢中負面的影響，最終可以發一個好夢。

店主希望令人更多留意生活中的樂趣，從而傳達及宣揚印第安的祝福文化，因此在作品中都使用了富有民族元素的材料，其中有不少更是天然的資源，例如飄流木、石頭海珊瑚、樹枝等等，他們亦會將去旅行時收集到的有趣事物，放進作品入面呈現出異國的特色風格。

文：子虛
圖：漫漫

#HongKongInvention
Hong Kong Scientists Develop Quicker Machine to Detect Diseases Including Wuhan Pneumonia

The Polytechnic University of Hong Kong had successfully developed a machine that could detect and identify 40 different viruses and bacteria via a single test in under one hour, including the Wuhan coronavirus, influenza A virus, SARS-CoV, Bordetella pertussis, and Legionella pneumophila, which is double the amount of pathogens current machines could analyse.

Dr. Terence L.T. Lau, Director of Innovation and Technology Development of PolyU, stated that the new technology would increase sensitivity in identifying such pathogens, thus increasing the results' reliability. He also stated that said technology would be able to lower the production costs of the diagnostic system, with each test costing around HKD $200 to $300 each, compared to $1000 of current systems, allowing for mass production and its widespread use.

Prof. Manson Fok, President of the University Hospital of the Macau University of Science and Technology, stated that the results were due to the five years of hard work from Hong Kong's most elite scientists and technicians. He also stated that since the Hong Kong government had declined to provide funds for the project, the funding of the production of said machines would fall under the hands of the People's Government of Shenzhen, thus this Hong Kong-invented machine would have the wordings "Made in China" written on it.

Image: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/17144

Source: RTHK; Cable News
#Feb11 #Technology #PolyU #HealthCrisis #MadeinHongKong #MadeinChina

#HongKong #HealthCrisis
Classes Suspend For At Least 2 More Weeks; Special work arrangement for Government departments continues until 23 Feb

On Feb 14, Hong Kong's Education Bureau announcement the postponement of class for two more weeks. Classes will resume as early as March 16.

Meanwhile, special work arrangement for Government departments and their employees will go on until February 23, in an effort to minimize social interactions and the risk for the coronavirus to spread in the city, the government declared.

Emergency services and necessary social services will not be affected, while other public services will be maintained at a limited and basic capacity.

If necessary, different departments will make their own arrangements and separate announcements. The government spokesperson calls for employers to offer their employees flexible working hours to minimize human contacts at this time.

Source: InMedia #Feb14
#ChinesePneumonia #Classes

Imaginary Reply to (Warning) Letter Issued by the Hospital Authority to Medical Staff During Strike #justforfun

In Reality, Hospital Authority Refuses to Promise Not to Retribute on Staff on Strike Demanding for Adequate Supply of Protective Equipmemt and Border Closure
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/16571

#HAEA #HA #Strike #EmployeeRights

It is just a day away...