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【Second Opinion】The Life Saving Benefits of Hong Kong's Battle with the Coronavirus (Mark Simon)

蘋果日報 2020/03/17 17:55


This newspaper ran an important public health story yesterday on how many in the Hong Kong expatriate community were not following community norms and failing to wear facial masks during the coronavirus epidemic.
To the folks who sent me nasty grams, let me explain that without a doubt in the minds of most Hong Kong people the mask is a vital part of a community health effort that works. Last month we saw the proof of this in the release of 2020 winter flu and influenza season statistics that were mind blowing in terms of the rewards a well implemented public health program can achieve.
Folks, Hong Kong flipped from assured death to saving lives when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2019 winter flu/influenza season lasted 14 weeks from December 30th, 2018 to the week ending April 6th 2019. Approximately 98 days of flu and influenza season. Sadly, 356 Hong Kongers died from the flu and influenza last year and 601 were admitted to intensive care units(ICU).
In 2020 we saw a much different story.
Flu/influenza season this year started the first week of January, and ended a short 37 days later, the week of February 13th. With nearly 60 fewer days of the season we saw only 113 deaths and 182 ICU admissions. That's huge.
Yes, some credit goes to the vaccination programs. For 2019 the government administered about 1.12 million flu vaccinations through the first week of April, the week before the end of the flu/influenza season that year.
In 2020 the Hong Kong government increased its vaccination coverage by 17% undertaking 1.34 million vaccinations before and during flu/influenza season. Government's ability to get out the increased vaccinations in 2020 earlier and with solid targeting, along with continued hygiene efforts in schools and homes played a solid role in cutting the 2020 flu/influenza season short.
Yet, as a few General Practitioner's told me this past friday, the correlation between the arrival of the coronavirus and the SAR's like response of the Hong Kong people was the driving element in cutting the length of the flu/influenza season, reducing the death toll, as well as reducing ICU admissions. One could argue over what strain in 2019 versus 2020 was more severe, but in the end it's really about transmissions rates.
Hong Kong shortened it's flu and influenza season by individual and community effort. Shorter season, fewer deaths.
When Coronavirus came on the radar of the Hong Kong people in January of this year Hong Kong people put on their masks, cleaned every surface, passed out the hand sanitizer, and started social distancing. I'd call it 2 weeks, from just after Chinese New Year to the end of the first week of February, in terms of the time Hong Kong people made our city a hostile environment for the coronavirus.
Why only now bring this out. Well to be honest, most of us were waiting for the body count from Coronavirus to wipe out the gains, 200+ lives, of those not taken by the yearly flu/influenza cull. Yes, we have lost 4 so far to the coronavirus that came out of Wuhan, but it doesn't mean we will lose more.
Coronavirus came down from China with an ability to turn us into South Korea, Italy, or Iran. It didn't. Other nation's can do as well as Hong Kong. Work together, wash your hands, keep your distance, and help the elderly get through this. If you have a cough or live in a dense urban area, wear a mask. Don't be a jackass because you're 28 and jog.
Hong Kong is an amazing place. A city that was hit by the coronavirus and turned it into a life saving event.