Students returning to Hong Kong
As early as 15th February this year, all Anglican churches in Hong Kong have ceased to hold any public services.
Kenson contributes to our series on the effect of the Coronavirus in different places in the world..
For all who grew up in Hong Kong, we sure would have grown used to epidemics now. The year I left reception, there was SARS. I still remember going to school as a little boy wearing those uncomfortable face masks. Then when I was about to graduate from primary school, there was the Swine Flu.
When we first heard about the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, the general consensus in Hong Kong was that we should close all our borders. Sadly the government was insistent that borders, especially those connecting mainland china and Hong Kong, should stay open. Then the inevitable outbreak happened. Hong Kong has now closed all its borders, except those connecting mainland china. All schools have been closed indefinitely.
Seeing people in masks is not an unusual sight in Hong Kong
I was very concerned about my family in the early days of the outbreak, but from our daily phone calls, they seem to have become experts on all matters regarding coronavirus, teaching me all about the different grades of face masks, and which ones are useful preventing infection. They even sent me some face masks from Hong Kong.
Some of you may remember the social unrest in Hong Kong from a few months ago, protests have now ceased because of the epidemic. Very much like churches across the world, protesters have also moved to the online platform to promote their cause. Like Britain last week, Hong Kong also saw appalling scenes of empty shelves because of people stockpiling foodstuff and loo rolls when the epidemic started. There was an initial shortage of face masks as well. From my recent conversations with my family, the condition seems to be improving.
Yet with large number of students returning from abroad, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus has increased again, and there is a fear that another wave of public outbreak is imminent. Stories were told how some students did not eat or drink, or even use the toilets on the plane for 12 hours, to avoid catching the virus.
The general atmosphere in Hong Kong is calm and positive, trusting our doctors and medical staff will lead us through this difficult time.
Click here for a report from the Czech Republic.
St Chrysostom's Church News and Views 