#WuhanPneumonia #CensorshipKills #GlobalOutbreak
China's virus response likely cost world two months: White House

Reuters, March 11, 2020

//China did not initially handle the coronavirus outbreak well, likely costing the world two months when it could have prepared and dramatically limited the outbreak, Robert O’Brien, the White House national security adviser, said on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, rather than using best practices, this outbreak in Wuhan was covered up,” he said during a think-tank appearance, citing reports from Chinese citizens about doctors being silenced or put into isolation “so that the word of this virus could not get out.”
“It probably cost the world community two months to respond,” during which “we could have dramatically curtailed what happened both in China and what’s now happening across the world,” he said.//

Source: https://mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN20Y29R

#WuhanPneumonia
HK government announces more anti-epidemic measures targeting citizens and visitors from abroad, but exempting the epicenter China

According to Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan, the Department of Health is further expanding the testing of Wuhan Pneumonia. High-risk persons returning from overseas are the next targets. However, she stressed that relevant arrangement at the airport is challenging, as the ability to handle additional test procedures in addition to daily routine has to taken into account.

With regards to the mandatory home quarantine arrangements, Chan said that patients in isolation should ensure good ventilation. They should keep no less than 1-meter distance with others and should not share food and drinks with other members of the family. At the same time, they should also maintain good personal hygiene.

Other anti-epidemic measures announced by the Hong Kong government include

• Issuance of red travel alert for various regions around the globe, except China, Macao and Taiwan

• All arrivals from overseas countries after midnight on 19 March, except those from China, Macao and Taiwan, will undergo a mandatory quarantine period of 14 days

• It is unlikely to fully resume school on 20 April, but partial resumption might be possible

• Various bureau of the government have purchased around 2.6 million filter masks

• The disadvantaged and the elderly are prioritized groups for mask distribution

• Considering that Hong Kong citizens returning from abroad may not possess filter masks, masks will be provided to Cathay Pacific for distribution

• Knowing a shortage of children's masks, the correctional services department will dedicate one production line for childern’s masks while all government-funded production is required to produce children's masks.

• Wuhan pneumonia is a prolonged battle, citizens should be prepared psychologically

• The government will dedicate its best effort to protect the Medical System of Hong Kong

Source: RTHK

https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/ch/component/k2/1514951-20200317.htm?spTabChangeable=0

#Mar17 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

#CensorshipKills #GlobalOutbreak
Hong Kong Experts: Wuhan Coronavirus originated from China is an "outcome of Chinese bad habits"

- Using "Wuhan coronavirus" or "Wuhan pneumonia" in daily communication and media coverage is for the sake of easy understanding

- China has forgotten the hard lesson of SARS epidemic by allowing fresh game meat to become food delicacy in modern cities

- Wuhan's South China seafood wholesale market was the origin of the coronavirus.

- Wuhan pneumonia is an "outcome of Chinese bad habits" which include the "indiscriminate hunt of wild animals, inhuman treatment of animals, and lack of respect for life".

- Should such culture remain, SARS 3.0 would certainly break out.

- World Health Organization was too slow in its decision to declare a pandemic of COVID-19", making many countries unprepared for the outbreak.

- Claims of the origin of the coronavirus in the United States are "unsubstantiated" and "self deceiving".

Source: Stand News #Mar18

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#CensorshipKills #GlobalOutbreak
Hong Kong Experts: Wuhan Coronavirus originated from China is an "outcome of Chinese bad habits";
Many Countries Unprepared Due to WHO's Slow Response

The naming of the novel coronavirus has stirred up disputes, as China opposed the insertion of "Wuhan" despite that it is the origin of the virus.

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, a SARS expert and microbiologist at the University of Hong Kong, and honorary assistant professor, Lung chun-bong contributed an article to Ming Pao on March 18. They wrote that using Wuhan coronavirus or Wuhan pneumonia in daily communication and media coverage is for the sake of mass communication. The name is easier for the public to understand, compared to the formal term adopted in scientific debates or academic discussions.

Yuen and Lung expressed that during the 2013 SARS outbreak, coronavirus was found in civet cat, leading to an outright ban of game meat trading in China; however, 17 years later, the game meat market is flourishing in China. In other words, China seemed to have forgotten the hard lesson of SARS epidemic. Yuen and Lung criticized the behavior allowing fresh game meat to become food delicacy in modern cities as eye-popping.

The article pointed out directly that the South China seafood wholesale market in Wuhan was the origin of the coronavirus. The virus was spread through cross-infection and mutated from its natural host to an intermediate host and to human being, eventually causing human-to-human infection.

The Wuhan Coronavirus was described in the article as an "outcome of Chinese bad habits" which include the "indiscriminate hunt of wild animals, inhuman treatment of animals, and lack of respect for life". The article concluded that should such culture remain, SARS 3.0 would certainly breakout in some ten years later.

In response to China's statement that the virus was originated in the United States, the article criticized such statement as "unsubstantiated", "self-deceiving" and should be stopped to avoid making fool of themselves.

The article also criticized "the World Health Organization for being slow in its decision to declare a pandemic of COVID-19". As a result, many countries are left insufficiently prepared in anti-epidemic measures vulnerable for the disease. For the time being only Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are better guarded for virus attack.

[Editor's note: In the evening of March 18, Mingpao said Yuen and Lung withdrew their article from the newspaper and that Yuen said that scientists should not get involved with politics. See Stand News Report.]

Sources: Ming Pao; Stand News
#Mar18 #WuhanPneumonia #WHO #China #CoronavirusPandemic #GameMeatDelicacy

#ChinaPropaganda #StateMedia
China's State Media accuses U.S. for scapegoating China and criticizes their "long standing arrogance"

Xinhua news agency published an article, claiming that U.S. politicians used the new coronavirus outbreak to stigmatize China, and the U.S. media also published insulting articles with obvious racist connotations. Chinese state media comdemns that these words and actions have exposed the "long-standing arrogance in the United States", their "anti-China" mentality and "racism".

China criticized the U.S. of creating a wide gap between countries and cultures, undermining cross-country collaboration in the fight against the epidemic.

The article also pointed out that whenever the world is facing a pandemic threat or a global crisis, some powers will jump out to scapegoat a country or a race, making use people's anxiety to incite hatred and xenophobia for their interests.

Source: RTHK

#Mar20 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #ChinesePropaganda

#FailedState #HongKongAirport
Hong Kong Government Implement New quarantine Measures, Disorganising the Capacity of Existing Health Care System

Preventing the second wave of Coronavirus outbreak, the HKSAR government implemented new quarantine measures on Thursday, March 19, requiring all arrivals from abroad to undergo mandatory quarantine or medical surveillance for 14 days.

Student, nicknamed 'Y', has just returned from Finland and said the quarantine measures at the Hong Kong Airport were in disarray on the first day.

Upon his arrival in the morning, he informed the immigration officer that he had a mild cough. He was then taken to wait in isolation for further examination. The quarantine facility in the airport was roughly constructed and separated from other areas with fabric curtains. Only water and dry food were provided to 20 to 30 civilians in the quarantine area. No arrangement was made for them to retrieve their luggage.

Having waited for more than 10 hours, they were still not sent for medical inspection, due to the insufficient room in the hospital. Student Y criticised the arrangement as chaotic, as it was implemented without considering the capacity of the city's health care system.

Source: City Broadcasting Channel
#Mar20 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

#Mar23 #COVID19
Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces further prevention measures against the pandemic

1. For 14 days starting midnight this Wednesday (Mar 25):
- Non-Hong Kong residents (except those from China) are prohibited from entry;
- Non-Hong Kong residents travelling from China, Macau, and Taiwan are prohibited from entry if they have visited overseas countries within 14 days;
- Hong Kong International Airport will stop serving all connecting flights;
- Those travelling from Taiwan and Macau (including Hong Kong residents) must undergo mandatory home quarantine for 14 days.

2. Increased testing for asymptomatic patients:
Travellers from the United Kingdom, European countries and the United States are required to undergo virus screening tests. Each will be given a sample bottle for collecting a deep throat saliva sample, which they are required to return to the Department of Health the next day.

3. Increased crackdown against those who violate home quarantine:
A reporting hotline will be established.

4. Further reduce social contact.
- 8,600 restaurants with liquor licenses, bars, and clubs are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages.
- Citizens should refrain from of social gatherings such as wedding banquets. If this does not effectively reduce gatherings, the government will enact laws regulation.
- Except for playgrounds on land belonging to private clubhouses, all sports facilities, changing rooms, children's facilities, etc. will be closed.

Editor's note: The arrangement under #1 is far from a complete border closure, as Non-Hong Kong residents are still free to enter Hong Kong from mainland China.

Source: TG Channel weatherjj
#GlobalOutbreak #BorderControl

#Japan #Olympics2020 #GlobalOutbreak
Olympic Games Postponed; Japan might lock down Tokyo, as Wuhan Pneumonia continue to breed

The impacts of the new coronavirus are unprecedented. Many countries imposed lockdown to prevent the pandemic from spreading further.

On March 24, the International Olympic Committee was announced that the 2020 Tokyo Olympics would be postponed to no later than the summer of 2021.

The day before on March 23, Governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike had urged citizens to stay away from large-scale gatherings and crowded areas. She also asked businesses to adopt flexible working hours and implement home office. She warned hat if the coronavirus continued to spread in Tokyo in the next three weeks, the city would be locked down with no other option viable.

Source: Stand News

#Mar23 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

Pro-democracy Lawmaker Condemns Carrie Lam for shedding crocodile tears to medical workers,
Pro-Beijing Lawmaker says a complete lockdown is unnecessary as situation eases in China

Diagnosed infection cases of Wuhan pneumonia surged last week. On March 22, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced a further lockdown of borders. Non-residents travelling from foreign countries (except those from China) were banned from entry, while non-residents arriving from China, Macau and Taiwan who have been to other overseas countries or territories in the past 14 days would also be banned. Lam shed tears in the press conference, and expressed gratitude for the effort of medical workers.

Pro-democracy legislative councillor Dr. Kwok Ka- ki accused Lam of shedding “crocodile tears”. “A month ago she said the medical workers were against the citizens, and now she embraced them?” said Kwok.

Kwok condemned Carrie Lam as she “was too late for any decisions made, and her every move was forced”. He also criticised Lam for being “a hypocrite”, as the medical workers demanded a complete border lockdown a month ago, for which Lam accused them of “going against the citizens, who now shed tears to show her gratitude for them. “If she really cares about them, why did she make her action after the negative pressure rooms has been overloaded?”

Kwok further discussed the lack of manpower at the test centre at the Asia World Expo and the Northern Lantau Hospital. Medical staff were not provided with adequate protective wear, as only masks and gloves were available. Kwok urged government authorities to deploy more manpower and close down borders until the pandemic was tackled, or else the medical workers would become furious.

In face of further border lockdown, pro-Beijing Ma Fung- kwok, Legislative Councillor of Sports, Performing Arts, Culture and Publication, made no criticism, as he believed that the government should make flexible arrangements:” Countries with severe condition (Europe and America) should pose more bans, but those with relieved conditions (the mainland) should go easy.”

Ma suggested the government to initiate the second round of Anti-epidemic Subsidies, including grant for cinema rents, exemption of rent for the participating publishers of this year’s book fair, and regulating schools to pay to their tutors. He criticised that the current anti-pandemic measures were not adequate in helping the industries, and they were “a drop in the ocean” particularly to the publishing industry. Ma also mentioned, that many tutors of extra-curricular activities could not teach any course due to class suspension as online teaching was not applicable. The suffered a loss income of almost a year.

Source: InMedia HK #Mar23
#GlobalOutbreak #COVID19 #BorderControl

Read More: Chief Executive Carrie Lam announces further prevention measures against the pandemic
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18903

#Airport #GlobalOutbreak
Passenger: Epidemic screening in airport is loose and sloppy

Source: Mingpao #Mar23

Continue reading
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https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/18939

#Airport #GlobalOutbreak
Health Officer: Wristband is not a must;
Passenger: Epidemic screening at the Hong Kong airport is loose and sloppy

Since March 19, all passengers coming to Hong Kong from countries apart from China, Macau and Taiwan are asked to undergo a mandatory 14-day home-quarantine and given with a wristband for medical surveillance tracking.

A 22-year-old university student studying in the U.S. recounted on social media that he was not provided with any wristband, as he had made a transit in Taipei before arriving in Hong Kong on March 20. On the health declaration form, he was not asked to declare the places he visited.

The student said he asked the airport staff on site for the wristband but was told that “it is not a must” after one hour of waiting. He criticized the screening process for being “loose and sloppy”. Some doctors opinioned that the declaration process should be made mandatory, rather than voluntary.

The police reported that 41 people were found breaching the quarantine order. Five of them left their home without permission, of which two had removed the wristband. The remaining 36 were yet to be located, and warrants had been issued for their arrests.

Source: Ming Pao #Mar23 #ChinesePneumonia #Wristband #Quarantine

#FailedState #AntiEpidemic
Medical doctor and legislator denounce Hong Kong government’s low awareness in epidemic prevention

The outbreak of Coronavirus in Hong Kong is at the verge of losing control. In view of a surge of confirmed cases, the Food and Hygiene Department, however, did not set up a dedicated taskforce to handle the disinfection work for buildings where suspected cases are home-quarantined.

The Department was found not providing enough support and clear guidelines to their frontline staff, who ware sighted putting on or removing protective clothing at stairways or immediately outside the concerning apartments.

It was also reported that immediately after supervising the disinfection and cleaning work for buildings, the health inspectors visited restaurants.

Restaurant operators were shocked and criticised such arrangement as inappropriate.

Leung Tze-chiu, Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the Medical Association's Advisory suggested for the government to create two separate teams, “dirty team” and “clean team”, to handle inspection works that’s contagious.

Kwok Ka-kei, a medical doctor and legislator expressed that a dedicated taskforce is necessary. He condemned the department of having low awareness in epidemic prevention, saying, “the dedicated team should focus only on the sites with confirmed cases to avoid carrying the virus around.”

Source: Ming Pao
#Mar31 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

#WuhanPneumonia #China #Celebration #US #Japan
People in China Celebrate Coronavirus Calamities in the US and Japan

As Wuhan Pneumonia rages across the globe, the Chinese Communist Party claimed that the outbreak has been slowing down in China. The communist regime also sees the pandemic as an diplomatic opportunity by
exporting medical supplies abroad in a bid to salvage the withering reputation.

In China, people, however, are gloating over the calamity around the world. In Liaoning Shenyang, a porridge shop set up an inflatable celebratory decoration “congratulating” the outbreak of Coronavirus in the U.S. and Japan.

Some farmers hoisted Chinese-style festive banners to applaud the confirmed cases of Coronavirus has exceeded 100,000 in the U.S.

In a video circulating on the internet, Chinese citizens were standing upright and read aloud, “Congratulations to the U.S for getting more than 100,000 confirmed cases of Coronavirus. I love China. Fight the U.S.” Moments later, fireworks were lit up for a celebration. The video has become viral on outbound social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter since March 30.

People in China had little sympathy on their fellow countrymen either. In Wuhan, the epicentre of Coronavirus with over 50,000 confirmed cases, relatives of the deceased lined up, in tears and pain, outside funeral home to collect ashes. Some others, however, staged celebratory ceremony to thank the medical staff of Huoshenshan Hospital, wearing red windbreakers and waving Chiblnese flags and banners that read “Thank you for risking your lives for Wuhan”, while showing a big smile in front of the camera. Netizens scorned, “staged disaster recovery, staged thanksgiving, dramatic mourning, staged news reporting, staged medical treatment, only the cremation is real."

Source: Apple Daily #Mar31
Image: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19234

#GlobalOutbreak #ChinesePneumonia

Editorial Column: From Ebola Virus to "CCP Virus"
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19223

#AntiEpidemic #HumanRights #DomesticHelpers
Domestic Helpers Concern Groups Criticize Hong Kong Government for Neglecting Domestic Workers' Rights in Coronavirus Preventive Regulations

Since March 29 2020, the HKSAR government has prohibited gatherings of more than 4 people in public place and required a social distance of no less than 1.5 meter. The new rule will last for 14 days.

During the coronavirus outbreak, the footbridges in Mong Kok, where domestic helpers spent their day off, has become fairly empty. On 5 April 2020, concern groups including the Foreign Labour Centre, the Asian Migrants' Union and the chairman of Labour Party Kwok Wing-ken distributed hand sanitizers, masks, takeaway menus and Coronavirus prevention leaflets to the foreign helpers on the footbridge.

Eni Lestari, Chairperson of Asian Migrants' Union said, “It is the Government's responsibility to step up epidemic prevention publicity for foreign domestic helpers,” stressing that "protection of domestic helpers is also for the protection of employer's family".

Tong Hiu-yan, Director of Community Relations at the Foreign Labor Works Centre, said they have received many requests for help from domestic helpers. Most of the workers live with the employers and most of them do not have their own rooms. In other words, they would be asked to work and unable to take proper rest, when staying at thr employer's home on holidays.

Tong criticised the government's Labor Departments for not providing enough guidelines for both employers and domestic helpers. Besides, the Department had no practical measures to protect the rights and interests of the domestic helpers and was unwilling to handle requests of domestic helpers.

Source : InMedia HK #Apr5
Image: https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/19307
#ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #MigrantWorkers

#Dentistry #CivilServant
Government dental services carry on routine duty without washout period during coronavirus outbreak

The facebook page of Civil Servants' Secrets, where whistleblowers' messages are published, revealed on March 30, 2020 that dentists and dental nurses working in government's clinics were demanded to take up coronavirus inspection work in ports or Asia-Expo once or twice a week.

Without any washout period, they are directly sent back to carry on their routine services at dental clinics after the inspection work. At the port areas, they gave out quarantine orders to overseas arrivals and collect samples of sputum from those passengers with onset of Coronavirus.

Source: Facebook Page of Civil Servants' Secrets

#Mar30 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #WashoutPeriod #HealthCrisis

#HongKongProtests #Freedom
President of Public Doctors Association Calls for HongKongers to Defend Social Distancing as Their Rights to Gather and Protest

Part 1 ⬆️⬆️⬆️⬆️

If citizens are getting relaxed about social distancing, the epidemic could dwell and last even longer, providing excuses for the government to extend the gathering ban.

Chapter 599 of the Prevention and Control of Diseases Ordinance confers on the Secretary for Food and Health, the Chief Executive and the Executive Council the power to prevent, cope with or mitigate the effects of public health emergencies. It also gives law enforcement officers a lot of power to enter private premises without a search warrant. If the government and the police are not using the powers of this Ordinance to control disease, but to control citizens’ freedom, such consequence could be detrimental, e.g. during the remembrance activities held on March 31, a female police officer stated her wish to charge 5 arrestees nearby Prince Edward subway station of breaching the gathering restriction, despite the fact that the five people were not even acquainted with each other.

At times, preventing the spread of disease and preventing exploitation of human rights could cause a conflict of values. The crux relies on how the government strikes a balance in implementing and enforcing restrictions and the duration of such restrictions. A civil society that honors self-discipline counts less on laws to resolve public health problems which avoids giving excuses to those in power.

Lastly, Ma calls for citizens to understand when to take to the streets and when to seek entertainment. With today's socio-political environment skewed towards the rule of man in absence of the rule of law, the remaining rights of the Hong Kong people could easily be striped away without a fight.

Source: Stand News
#Apr12 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak

700,000 Bottles of Santizers From Hong Kong to Australia

To cope with the lack of medical supply caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the air company Virgin Australia just transported 700,000 bottles of alcohol handrub from Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia.

Source: SBS #Apr16

#HongKongHelps #GlobalOutbreak #Australia #MedicalSupply #HongKongsRole

#Newspaper

China withheld data on coronavirus from WHO, recordings reveal

Recordings obtained by the Associated Press show WHO officials complaining in meetings during the week of 6 January that Beijing was not sharing important data concerning the coronavirus for risk assessment.

On 9 January China state media announced the illness was the result of a new coronavirus but said it was not contagious. It was not until 20 January that China confirmed the virus was contagious and it was not until 30 January that the WHO, which has been criticized for consistently lauding China, declared a global emergency.

Authorities locked down Wuhan on 23 January but at least 5 million residents had already left, traveling all over the world before the Lunar New Year holiday.

The virus has infected more than 6 million and killed more than 375,000 worldwide. Growing international scrutiny of China’s handling of the outbreak is currently moving the establishment of an independent investigation.

Full Article: The Guardian, (02-Jun)
https://bit.ly/2AMC0wg

#coronavirus #globaloutbreak #WHO #China