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Fight Hong Kong's coronavirus third wave with transparency on border crossings data A clear understanding of what categories of people cross the border and how many of them are tested will help Hongkongers take common-sense precautions. A likely source of the recent local Covid-19 outbreaks is people who were infected outside Hong Kong. When residents fled the outbreaks in Europe and the United States, or otherwise returned from overseas trips in previous months, they were quarantined, tested and those found positive were treated. To better understand the latest outbreaks, data is needed on all border and boundary crossings and the risk of leakage of the virus into Hong Kong. Ideally, the data should be broken down into meaningful categories, including employment and social characteristics, which makes it easier to understand and predict people's movements once on the ground. Pilots, truck drivers, businessmen - who are quarantined, who are not? Who are tested, who are not? When I asked epidemiologists and health experts on a recent radio show, it appeared to me that they research the virus but may not have a full understanding of immigration data. The government may be unnecessarily reticent about disclosure. To sustain our city, we need essential crossings to continue. We would be without food if we did not. A good understanding by the community of cross-border and boundary movements will allow the community to take common-sense precautions based on their perception of the risks. The community responsiveness, including the immediate use of masks, has kept Hong Kong safe from the virus - well beyond what other communities have been able to achieve. Transparency of movements across our borders and boundaries will help the community guard itself against leakage and spread of the virus. Paul Zimmerman CEO, Designing Hong Kong; District councillor, Pok Fu Lam
First published in the South China Morning Post on 14 July 2020: |
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