Picture of the Day: Extreme Social Distancing

The scene tonight along the waterfront -- social distancing at its finest

Every evening after dinner I get all suited up and masked up to venture outside for some fresh air and exercise for the day.

There are usually people walking along the waterfront too, couples, small groups, runners, families.

But all day today there were very light showers that continued into the evening.

Despite the rain I ventured outside anyway with an umbrella and there was barely anyone around.

The picture here is taken by Sai Ying Pun and usually there are people hanging out here on the benches, or walking along the path, but tonight hardly anyone; after I took this picture, two runners emerged from the distance along with another pedestrian.

The rain wasn't too bothersome and actually it was nice to not see many people, save for a few die-hard runners. But on the way back the rain stopped and neighbourhood residents began appearing...

Today there were 32 new coronavirus cases, bringing Hong Kong's total to 714.

Hong Kong Hospitals Almost Full Capacity

A makeshift emergency field hospital has been set up in Central Park

In the news there are pictures of large white tents set up in Central Park in New York City, a makeshift emergency field hospital that will hold 68 beds. So far New York has over 33,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, and over 770 people have died.

Dr Lau Ka-hin warns isolation wards are in short supply

Meanwhile in Hong Kong, health officials are warning there soon will not be enough beds, particularly isolation wards. Could there be a field hospital set up in say, Victoria Park? We should not be surprised.

Today in a press conference, Dr Lau Ka-hin, the Hospital Authority's chief manager in quality and standards, warned that isolation beds were increasingly in short supply, revealing that 39 of the infected cases out of 41 cases today were still waiting to be admitted into hospital.

He added the occupancy rate of isolation wards in some hospitals was already at 100 percent as of noon today. Currently there are 489 positive cases being treated in 14 hospitals. While patients are being discharged, Lau added it took time to completely disinfect the bed and area that the patient had occupied so it wasn't as if another patient could take the bed right away.

Some 39 positive cases are waiting to be admitted to hospital

They will determine those without a fever for 48 hours, no breathing problems, infection symptoms or diarrhea could be moved to "second-line" isolation wards, or general wards that had been converted to have isolation functions.

Everyday there are on average over 40 positive cases, the majority of them from overseas, and Hong Kong must accept them if they are residents of the city, so we must care for them too.
This is why people in Hong Kong need to take social distancing very seriously. If there is no particularly reason for you to go out, don't. Best to stay at home and stay clean.

One bar/cafe with this sign on its door

In any event, several restaurants and cafes are shutting down temporarily to protect not only their staff, but also prevent gatherings in their establishments -- they don't want to be in the media to be known for having positive cases.

So there are many signs like this now. And it's true, we're all in this together so we need to work together. Stay home, stay safe.

Can HK Restaurants Survive the Pandemic?

Hong Kong's new normal of restaurants having 50 percent capacity

This morning (well late morning) I ventured to a place near where I live that just organizes pop-ups, or guest chef promotions on a regular basis, with chefs from around the world.

However with the coronavirus pandemic and travel restrictions, the owner had to quickly switch gears -- and in fact he did several months ago already -- and instead do collaborations with young up-and-coming local chefs who are keen to try some new culinary ideas.

Chef Eric Raty with his blueberry pie

The owner was telling me how business was very difficult these days, as his space is not open everyday, and with customers not really having an appetite to sit down to a multi-course dinner, he has moved very quickly to have a bake sale today, his first.

I walked over to the place just after it opened and it seemed to be doing a brisk business, with a lot of people already pre-ordered items that were packaged in large brown paper bags.

I hadn't, but came prepared with my own takeaway boxes and the chef who has a Michelin two-starred restaurant, personally packed my boxes with baked treats like gluten-free chocolate walnut cookies, a blueberry and cardamon pie, and a small Finnish tart.

Later after lunch I had one of the cookies -- it was so delicious and overwhelmingly chocolately that I could not finish the second cookie, which is very rare for me to do. It was just so delicious that texted the chef to tell him that.

The owner was there and we didn't talk much because he was really busy preparing tea and coffee for guests who were sitting inside and enjoying their pastries. I was worried about him because before the bake sale,  he had told me that he needed to find ways to make money fast, otherwise he could only sustain his business for another two months.

Gluten-free chocolate walnut cookies were for sale today

That is the reality of a lot of restaurants in Hong Kong now. One large restaurant group that has 21 restaurants in the city and another exclusively for takeout, and is under a lot of financial pressure to ensure its over 1,000 staff still have jobs.

However, one local group has decided to shut down all 48 of its restaurants for two weeks "for everyone's health and safety", the group said in its Facebook page on Friday.

Tao Heung Holdings has a variety of Chinese restaurants like Tao Heung, Pier 88, Hak Ka Hut, Chao Inn, Chung's Cuisine, and Tai Cheong, famous for its egg tarts.

Meanwhile a lot of places quickly implemented the 50 percent capacity rule, with some restaurants literally taping off tables or removing them on Saturday before the 6pm deadline. Other places had signs outside the doors explaining because of the strict rules they could only have a maximum of three tables at any one time.

One of Tao Heung's restaurants before it closed for two weeks

It will be interesting to see if the implementation of these strict regulations will indeed lower the number of cases in the next few days; the odd thing is that karaoke establishments fall under the restaurant license but how do you prevent people from sitting too closely together in a small room and they are sharing microphones...

Are people still going to these places when they should be social distancing?

Or is now the time to sing your heart out as a stress reliever? It's a dilemma.

The WHO's Embarrassing Interview

The WHO's Dr Bruce Alyward stopped an interview with RTHK about Taiwan

This evening's clip of Radio Television Hong Kong's interview with the WHO's Dr Bruce Aylward have gone viral on social media because the medical expert refused to answer a question about Taiwan regarding the coronavirus.

RTHK's Yvonne Tong in a Skype interview asks the Canadian senior advisor to the Director General of the WHO about reconsidering Taiwan's membership in the organization and he feigns not to be able to hear the question, and even suggests she move onto the next question.

However, Tong repeats the question again to the physician-epidemiologist, who then he shuts down the interview, leaving the laptop screen blank.

It is an embarrassing scene. @WHO Director General, Bruce Aylward, hangs up in an interview with RTHK when he is asked about reconsidering Taiwan’s membership. Ironically, despite being so close to China, Taiwan manages to keep the #coronavirus infection and fatality rate low. pic.twitter.com/bFWRXpCyHN

— Ezra Cheung (@ezracheungtoto) March 28, 2020

 

What was that?

It clearly proves that the WHO has been co-opted by China in presenting it in the best light possible in its handling of the global pandemic that has infected over 577,000 people, over 27,500 dead.

Taiwan has handled the pandemic in the best way possible, thanks to the quick thinking of its officials and skepticism of China. It will also be another nail in the coffin for China's wish to take Taiwan back following the Hong Kong protests.

Chou Jih-haw of Taiwan's Centres for Disease Control

At a press conference earlier this week, Taiwan's Centres for Disease Control chief Chou Jih-haw says they wrote a letter to the WHO as early as December 31, asking about the coronavirus because they learned China's health care workers were getting ill, which suggested human-to-human transmission.
 "We asked them whether there's a possibility of human-to-human transmission. We indeed asked them and reminded them of the matter," Chou said. He said the WHO confirmed it had received the letter but did not respond to it.

Health minister Chen Shih-chung said fortunately Taiwan decided the same day to begin screening passengers flying in from Wuhan and activated its emergency operations centre on January 2 -- a move which health experts say helped Taiwan effective control the early spread of the virus.

In January, Chen said Taiwan sent health experts to China, but they were not allowed to see any patients or go to the markets where the virus is believed to have originated. The trip made Taiwanese officials realize they had to act quickly.

Taiwan Vice President Chen Chien-jen with Tsai Ing-wen

It also helps to point out one of those officials, Taiwan's Vice President Chen Chien-jen, is an epidemiologist and was the island's health minister during SARS in late 2002-2003.

On January 12, the WHO said there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission, but China confirmed this eight days later.

Chen says: "The WHO could not obtain first-hand information to study and judge whether there was human-to-human transmission of COVID-19. This led it to announce human-to-human transmission with a delay, and an opportunity to raise the alert level both in China and the wider world was lost."

So one can see why the WHO is red-faced about not taking into account the concerns from Taiwan, but still refuses to admit its mistakes. Hence Dr Aylward's shocking and disappointing handling of his interview with RTHK that was broadcast earlier this evening.

How can the WHO have any shred of credibility left after this pandemic is over?

Hong Kong Forces More Social Distancing

Carrie Lam's slogan today behind her says: "Stay Home, Keep Safe"

Today there was a shocking record of 65 new cases for Hong Kong, most of them again are residents who have come back from overseas, and still more from Lan Kwai Fong.

So Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has to come up with tougher measures to ensure more social distancing, but they are still kind of murky.

At around 5.30pm there was a collective groan in media circles when there was an announcement she would be holding a press conference in an hour... on a Friday...

She and her cabinet introduced new measures to start Saturday

All week there had been an outcry from the bar and restaurant community about her proposal on Monday to ban the sale of alcohol in establishments that have a liquor license. There was even an online petition going around with almost 5,000 signatures from the food and beverage industry against this idea.

It also turns out Lam didn't even seek the advice members from the executive council or her team of infectious disease experts, as they all preferred to use other ways of limiting social gatherings.

So she followed their advice. Describing now as a "public emergency situation", Lam announced that restaurants and bars can only have a maximum of four people per table, and each table should be 1.5 metres apart, and that these places should only hold half their capacity starting from tomorrow for the next two weeks.

In addition all staff need to wear masks, guests' temperatures need to be taken and hand sanitizer should be available.

Insomnia was one of the bars with many infections

The 50 percent capacity will put some restaurants in a bind -- can they make enough money to pay rent, staff, food and utilities? Is it worth even opening?

Many will probably continue to focus on takeaway to reduce their losses somewhat. It's a tough call.

Lam also announced the following establishments will be closed for two weeks starting from 6pm tomorrow: cinemas, fitness centres, saunas, party rooms, gaming centres and places of amusement, such as pool halls. Does that extend to mahjong parlours? Those tables are less than one-metre long and people are sitting there playing for hours...

In any event, spot checks will be carried out by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, and violators in the catering industry will be subject to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,450) and six months' in jail. People who flout the public gathering law will be fined HK$25,000 and six months in jail.

Restaurants will have to halve their capacity tomorrow

Hope that's enough of a deterrent to get people to do some serious social distancing.

Meanwhile Lam downplayed the U-turn on her idea of banning alcohol in bars and restaurants.

"The community so far agreed that a ban on liquor is not the right antidote in minimizing social interactions under a public emergency situation," she said. "We will instead enforce two laws to enhance social distancing."

Gatherings that do not fall under the four-person rule are: weddings, funerals, government functions, and workplace meetings. Banquet restrictions will be decided later, Lam said.

While she added the government would provide financial assistance to the catering industry, she was vague on specifics, and appealed to employers not to lay off staff in the near future.

Gatherings at weddings and funerals will be allowed

Does she even know the financial pressure in running a restaurant? Many cannot afford to keep staff when there's no business...

What's interesting to observe is that Lam will float an idea, or announce a measure, and when her panel of infectious disease experts don't think it's stringent enough, they will go to the media to express their opinions.

Then a day or two later Lam follows their advice.

Why doesn't she just listen to them in the first place? Why have an expert panel and not follow their advice? She is wasting precious time in containing the virus in Hong Kong...

Picture of the Day: Knit-bombing in Kennedy Town

Just a guy and his dinosaur hanging out at the Kennedy Town waterfront

Today Hong Kong recorded 43 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, bringing the city's total to a whopping 453, with health officials expecting many more in the coming days.

These fears have spooked people so much, that most bars around town were completely dead or shut, not wanting to be the cause of more infections.

The cutest person knitting with their friend

Meanwhile working from home (WFH), while convenient -- steps away from bed to desk -- being at home all day can be tiring. I stayed home all day yesterday, so I was determined to step outside today.

The Kennedy Town Waterfront area is a small promenade that doesn't connect to anything yet, but it's decorated by a talented knitter who has crochet some cute characters to brighten up the area.

Last year there were other creatures, but recently they have been taken down and replaced with other colourful characters.

Ok ok they aren't practicing social distancing, but you can't help but smile watching them put their arms around each other as they enjoy the view of Victoria Harbour.

Two mice sitting with flowers in their paws

I really would like to thank whoever has been doing these knit-bombing projects. They are a wonderful addition to the area and I hope more will be added.

Just a quick walk to this area is a good way to boost the spirits, have some fresh air and soak up some Vitamin D!

Coronavirus Information and Advice

The coronavirus is wreaking havoc on our lives and global economy

Today our office organized a medical expert (who previously was a front line doctor during SARS) to speak to us on a webinar about the coronavirus and he had some interesting points I'd like to share.

It is hard to say when the coronavirus pandemic will end, and it is hard to tell who has it when they are asymptomatic, which is why he stresses everyone should wear a face mask and constantly wash their hands. Elevators are where you have a good chance of catching the virus because it is a confined space, so a mask is an absolute must when you are in there.

A new way to greet friends instead of shaking hands

During this period there should be no handshaking or even dining with people at close range because the virus can be passed through droplets in the air. That's why everyone should stay at least one to two metres or six feet away from each other. Restaurants are definitely going to have a hard time staying in business now.

At meetings, everyone should wear a mask, and as a result, no beverages should be served; instead there should be hand sanitizers in the room that everyone uses before and after the meeting.

He said it was not necessary to wear an N95 mask -- let healthcare professionals wear those. If you wear one, you may not wear it properly and also you can only wear it at most two to three hours otherwise you will get dizzy from breathing in your own carbon dioxide. A three-ply surgical mask is fine.

Someone asked if the mother was infected, could she still breastfeed her baby. The doctor replied yes, and that she should clean her hands and wear a mask while breastfeeding.

As for taking toddlers outside, he did not recommend they be taken out too much because they will probably take their mask off at any opportunity, but if you do take them outside, go to a place with open air, like a park.

Deep throat swabs are the most accurate way to test

The virus in the form of droplets can be still active on surfaces for 72 hours -- he says studies did not measure beyond that, though their virulence is much weaker by that point. Nevertheless, he said to keep surfaces clean and again wash your hands frequently.

There is currently no evidence that the virus can become airborne through aerosol outside of a hospital environment so there was no need to worry about this. He said when it comes to offices being sanitized and deep cleaned, ventilation systems don't need to be cleaned per se, just the twice yearly cleaning is fine.

When it comes to home quarantine, he admits it is difficult for the average middle class family to do this effectively as family members are sharing the toilet and food (not at the same time!); the only expensive solution is for the person in quarantine to stay in a hotel for 14 days to ensure that elderly people in the family are not affected.

In Hong Kong, the rapid test, or deep throat swab can be done in public or private clinics, though he believes not many private doctors will do this (they have to suit up in protective gear before doing this) and will suggest patients go to a public clinic. The accuracy is the same as they are all processed in government labs.

The new social distancing at press conferences now?

However, the antibody test where they prick your finger for a drop of blood and test it is not effective and the doctor advises people not to do this.

Someone asked if after 14 days of quarantine one should be re-tested again, and he said it was not necessary.

Why are people re-infected? He says that perhaps they developed antibodies, but then after a certain period of time the antibodies were no longer in the person's immune system and so they were infected again. He does say people can get permanent lung damage from the coronavirus.

The Centre for Health Protection has chosen the quarantine time of 14 days in the hopes that most infected cases will be fine by then; there are some outlier cases where the virus is still present longer than that, but at the same time the health expert said there needs to be a balance of people getting back to work and their family. As long as someone tests negative twice then they are allowed to leave quarantine.

Yes! Walk your dog but wear a mask outside

He didn't go into the psychological impact the virus has on people, but reading stories about the coronavirus all day is terribly depressing and frightening too.

Hopefully now those who thought the virus won't affect them will finally understand that, as the doctor says, everyone is susceptible to it; there are more cases involving elderly people because they have underlying health conditions, but it is also hitting young, healthy people too.

Stay home as much as you can and wear a mask if you go outside. Oh and wash your hands...

Not Everyone Understands Quarantine

At the airport people are given quarantine bracelets and stay home for 14 days

Yesterday reporters grilled Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor about people who had come back to Hong Kong and were supposed to be under home quarantine but were seen out and about. What should the public do? They asked.

She explained that people were given about two hours' grace to get straight home on whatever way, as it might be public transport. But after, that they should not leave their homes.

This 13-year-old ate dinner with her uncle (right)

However, last night eagle-eyed Hongkongers immediately saw people completely contravening the quarantine order, taking videos and pictures of them.

One was a 13-year-old girl who was out having dinner with her uncle, her bracelet clearly showing on her wrist and she made no attempt to hide it. Nor did she put on a mask after eating.

The man filming them claimed they should stay where they are as he had called the police, but they kept walking away. At first they tried to get a taxi, but the man filming warned the taxi driver the girl had a quarantine bracelet on and not to take them.

Eventually the police found the pair.

This woman went shopping with her quarantine bracelet

Then there was a woman, again showing her bracelet and grocery shopping with a haul of food. She was also criticized.

Anyone who violates the quarantine order can be prosecuted and face up to HK$25,000 in fines or six months in jail.

There were other cases of people cutting the bracelet and going out and bragging about what they had done on social media... only to be caught later.

Some people really can't take things seriously, like a contagious virus that could be deadly when spread to people with compromised immune systems.

Carrie Lam teared up, asking people to respect quarantine

Lam even teared up during the press conference yesterday when she said: "To anyone who intends to breach the quarantine orders, anyone who still wants to go out and meet up with friends, can you not be restrained for some more time so Hong Kong can win this battle?"

Her pleas fell on deaf ears for some people.

Meanwhile McDonald's issued an announcement today that starting from tomorrow until April 7, all outlets will not allow customers to dine in all their Hong Kong outlets from 6pm, though they are allowed to order takeaway or have their meals delivered to them.

Perhaps people tend to linger more in the evenings than during the day?

While this move is completely understandable given the tense health situation we are in, this also means Hong Kong's many homeless people will have no where to go at night.

Homeless won't be able to stay overnight in McDonald's now

These "McRefugees" usually come into these places to not only use the washroom, but also shelter from the cold or heat, and have a cheap meal. Staff are usually sympathetic and let them stay. But this new rule will force the McRefugees to find another place to stay for the night.

Meanwhile after more than two-month lockdown, Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus, is finally breathing some fresh air, with residents slowly allowed to go outdoors in the neighbourhood.

However, not all is well in China... if anything the weeks of being stuck at home to keep safe from the coronavirus has resulted in a spike in... divorces.

State media Global Times reports that since March 1 when the divorce appointment system reopened in Xi'an in Shaanxi province, the marriage registration office began receiving a slew of appointments. There were 14 of them on March 4 and 5, reaching the maximum daily limit.

Divorce rates spiked in Xi'an... why is that?

"As a result of the epidemic, many couples have been bound with each other at home for over a month, which evoked the underlying conflicts, and in addition, the office was closed for a month, so the office has seen an acutely increasing number of divorce appointments," said an official surnamed Wang.

"Usually the office sees a wave of divorce appointments after Spring Festival and after the college entrance examinations."

But by the same token, another official in Xi'an in another district office handling divorces reports that several of the divorce requests are impulse decisions, and some couples decide to remarry when their divorce certificate is being printed...

Food and Beverage Industry in Coronavirus Peril

Lan Kwai Fong is quite quiet following a rash of coronavirus cases there

The Hong Kong government has announced more stringent measures to try to stem the imminent wave of coronavirus, by finally banning all visitors to the city, except those from Macau and the mainland, and is proposing that all 8,600 bars, restaurants and nightclubs with liquor licenses stop serving alcohol.

At the press conference this afternoon, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor explained the reason for banning alcohol by saying: "Sometimes people get a bit intimate when they're drunk, and this will raise the risk of cross infection."

Carrie Lam proposes banning alcohol sales to stop gatherings

She was probably referring to the 11 positive cases that were found in Lan Kwai Fong, with several cases involving people who were bar hopping in the area. A Wall Street Journal reporter's March 13 picture of nearby Peel Street packed with people, mostly non-Chinese and not wearing masks was also used as evidence to cut down on social gatherings.

However many criticized Lam for assuming people only drink alcohol to get drunk... and then have sexual relations.

Nevertheless, restaurant and bar owners are clamouring for the government to promise subsidies to pay staff and rent; reporters asked Lam if Hong Kong would follow the UK and pay 80 percent of wages, but she was vague in her reply.

A WSJ reporter's picture of Peel Street on March 13

Some restaurants and bars didn't wait for Lam's announcement and decided to close temporarily. Even if they put really strict measures in place, such as having tables 1-metre apart, hand sanitizing, have guests fill out health declaration forms, and staff wearing masks, is it really worth putting all that effort in and not make enough money to pay staff, let alone guarantee their safety either?

Following hotels that are empty, pretty much the entire food and beverage industry could be in peril if the government does not step in to keep it afloat. Restaurants don't make much money from serving food, it's from serving alcoholic drinks.

Also keep in mind hotels are owned by tycoons, while the vast majority of bars and restaurants are owned by small independents. After the coronavirus crisis is over, hotels will be open, but will bars and restaurants?

Coronavirus Dilemma

Along Victoria Road here is a view looking towards Lamma Island

After dealing with a stressful week, I have to say a dose of sunshine does wonders to the body and spirit.

Bauhinia flowers in bloom

Yesterday afternoon I needed to buy some walnuts and almonds for my oatmeal, and instead of taking the bus or MTR to Sheung Wan, I decided to walk to the mom-and-pop shop via the waterfront. Even though it was foggy, it was nice to be outside during the day. We all practiced social distancing, everyone, except runners, wearing masks.

After I came back home, instead of feeling tired carrying back 4lbs of nuts, I felt energized and tackled some work I didn't get to during the week.

This morning I decided to go out for a walk again after breakfast, this time along Victoria Road, where I hadn't gone for a while. There weren't too many people here, and I soaked up the blue skies and very warm temperatures at 22 to 26 degrees.

Thank goodness I wore a hat and the mask came in handy as joggers ran by. It's a few weeks before Qing Ming, but lots of people were already at the various cemeteries along Victoria Road to pay their respects to elders.

My great aunt and uncle are in one of these columbariums and I managed to find them -- there are so many floors and niches that you can only find them through the number on their niche. Thank goodness I had taken a picture last year which showed their code number.

Many people have visited cemeteries ahead of Qing Ming

Qing Ming is a nice time for families to gather in remembrance of loved ones, but this year it's a more anxious time with the coronavirus.

There are concerns of another wave coming, and these fears have already resulted in people staying away from bars and restaurants. Dr Gabriel Leung, an epidemiologist and dean of medicine at the University of Hong Kong, and Chinese University respiratory medicine expert Professor David Hui Shu-cheong have separately called on the government to limit the number of patrons in restaurants and bars.

Leung has added the government should subsidize part of the salaries of bar and restaurant employees so they won't be laid off, but it doesn't seem keen on the idea, and would rather these establishments figure out themselves the best way to stay open but have fewer patrons.

Prof David Hui urges bars and restaurants have fewer patrons

In the meantime, after news on Friday of at least five positive cases of the coronavirus were of people drinking in bars in Lan Kwai Fong, the area was completely dead that evening, and last night too.

It's a difficult situation for restaurant and bar owners, chefs, and staff -- do you stay open? If you do, how will you operate to try to make the environment as safe as possible for everyone?

Even conducting temperature checks and filling out health declaration forms aren't going to ensure the coronavirus will not come into the dining premises -- someone could be asymptomatic but carry the virus and spread it to others.

Already a number of places in Central have had to shut down for two weeks because customers or staff have found out they were positive.

Lan Kwai Fong in Central was eerily quiet on Friday night

Is it worth the risk?

But at the same time, how do you operate a business if your food and/or drinks are not possible for takeaway?

We live in challenging times, but Hongkongers will find a way to survive.

Lam Urges Stay Home, Protesters Come Out

Carrie Lam adjusting her mask throughout the press conference this evening

Just as people were tucking into dinner this evening, Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced civil servants would start working from home again from Monday, that libraries, outdoor sports grounds, fitness centres and museums would be closed again, and there would be stricter enforcement of quarantine measures on those travelers arriving into Hong Kong.

The number of cases shot up again today to a total of 273 confirmed infections and two more deaths, putting many in the city on edge.

Buenos Aires Polo Club is now closed for disinfection

"It is a critical moment, as the flood of inbound residents is expected to last for two more weeks," Lam said, adding the risk of a massive community outbreak was at its highest in two months. Throughout the press conference her mask would slip down, sometimes past her nose and she had to keep adjusting it.

In addition, the crucial DSE examinations for secondary students has been postponed to the end of April, and schools in general continue to be suspended until further notice, said Secretary of Education Kevin Yeung Yun-hung.

Four people were found to be violating their home quarantines thanks to them posting about it on social media, and Lam says they were arrested and will be prosecuted. The maximum penalty is HK$25,000 (US$3,222) or six months in jail. The four have been sent to government quarantine camps.

Today one restaurant group called Black Sheep Restaurants announced in an email to patrons and on social media that two of its restaurants had guests recently who tested positive. Both Buenos Aires Polo Club and Carbone are closed indefinitely for disinfection. There will be more cases like this cropping up.

July 21 last year white-shirted men attacked protesters in MTR

There were assumptions that the government would limit the number of patrons in restaurants in bars, but Lam didn't say this, and instead asked the public and the hospitality industry to exercise caution.

"I appeal to all residents, for the good of themselves, for their families, and for Hong Kong, please reduce all unnecessary going out, and avoid meal gatherings," she said. "I appeal to the relevant industry, for the sake of public health, to adjust their operations and lower risks for their customers."

It's going to be even harder for restaurants and bars to justify staying open if they have to find ways to "lower risks to customers", and how will this be enforced?

But it's imperative that Hongkongers collectively do everything they can to reduce the chance of infection from the coronavirus, which means ideally staying at home most of the time.

Tonight police were armed with tear gas and pepper spray

However this evening marked the eight-month anniversary of the Yuen Long attacks, and there were black-clad protesters gathered in the district. At least 100 people showed up, chanting slogans, such as "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our times", "Five demands not one less", and "Hong Kong independence is the only way out", and setting fire to cardboard.

The police arrived late to the scene, and as expected, fired tear gas and pepper spray. There was also a sit-in at Times Square shopping mall in Causeway Bay.

So much for social distancing. But some people believe the fight for justice and democracy needs to continue regardless of the current public health crisis...  

Infected Cases Continue to Surge

More people returning to Hong Kong means more possible infected cases

There was a record 48 new cases of people infected by the coronavirus reported today, to a total of 256 confirmed cases, making a lot of people in Hong Kong jump in alarm.

And they should.

Some of the cases were people congregating around Lan Kwai Fong -- I thought that area was not the "in place" anymore -- and another case in the gym chain that I belong to, and several were travelers who returned from overseas like Europe, the United States and Canada.

Dr Chuang reported there were 48 new cases in Hong Kong

Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, of the Centre for Health Protection's communicable disease branch, warns there could be a lot more cases in the coming days.

"As some of the cases had travel history a few days before... with the incoming number of residents returning to Hong Kong, we may see a high number of cases for at least two weeks or more," she said. 

This is why Hongkongers must not let their guard down, says Professor Gabriel Leung, dean of the University of Hong Kong's medical faculty and a member of Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's expert panel on the viral outbreak.

"It is absolutely critical especially as we have this influx of Hong Kong returnees starting from a few days ago and continuing for the next few days. This is the highest risk and we must be extra vigilant."

Dr Leung says Hong Kong is at war with the virus

Leung was concerned the flood of people coming back to the city could spark a second wave of infections, and worse, spread through the community, like what happened in South Korea in the first few weeks of the outbreak there.

"It is absolutely critical especially as we have this influx of Hong Kong returnees starting from a few days ago and continuing for the next few days. This is the highest risk and we must be extra vigilant."

Meanwhile top microbiologist Ho Pak-leung also at HKU, also expects there will be an additional 200 cases in the next two to three weeks. He suggested it would be best to immediately isolate travelers in quarantine, as even sharing bathrooms could spread the virus.

"When one patient passes the virus to two people in the community to form an unknown number of hidden transmission chains, then it's very likely that we will have 400 to 600 cases in the next two weeks," Ho said. If that happened, then "Hong Kong is at war".

Dr Ho predicts there could be an additional 200 cases

Other reported cases today include a man who went to the same gym I go to but different location, and a bank employee who attended a wedding celebration where cocktails were served and she mingled with others.

The fears of cases in Lan Kwai Fong that were reported yesterday had scared off a lot of diners tonight and this weekend, just as there was a campaign called #unitedwedine that kicked off with special, cheaper menus in the hopes of enticing diners back to restaurants.

The next few weeks will be critical and hopefully enough people have gotten the message to stay home not just for their safety, but also the safety of others.

Two Coronavirus Cases in Two Days

Several local media covered our office shutting down because of the virus

Fears of the coronavirus have become all too close for me in the last two days.

Late Tuesday night my colleagues and I were notified that someone in our office tested positive for the coronavirus. This person does not sit in the same area as me, but someone in my department had lunch with this person. Needless to say my colleague was terrified -- she was shaking when she found out.

Other reporters waiting to get soundbites from colleagues

We were told the office would be shut down until at least the weekend for deep cleaning and disinfection, though before then, for a short period in the morning we could go in to grab anything we needed from the office.

The news of our company's situation leaked to Chinese, then English media, so by 8am the next morning (yesterday) there were several reporters with cameras at the entrance, pouncing on colleagues who tried to rush in to get their personal effects. I went in to rescue some food and pick up my laptop.

The colleague who was terrified went into an out-patient clinic for testing. At first they recorded a mild fever, but when her temperature was taken again it was normal. She was kept overnight in a hospital.

She later found out another colleague who was at the same lunch would be quarantined in one of the government camps and asked me to pick up stuff from her roommate to give to her in the hospital as she worried there wouldn't be an opportunity to get anything.

The gym is a pretty easy place to pass germs around

I did my good deed of the day, picking up her bag of things in a garbage bag, then ferrying it to the hospital. Thankfully my colleague had taken a picture of her wristband for information of where she was. When I got to the hospital a security woman asked me where I was going and informed the nurse of that ward.

Then I had a temperature check by a nurse nearby and given a green slip of paper noting that my temperature had been checked.

When I got to the ward, I pressed the reception button. I tried to guess how to pronounce my colleague's Chinese name and the nurse berated me for saying it wrong. I said, "I'm sorry but my Chinese is terrible," but she was hardly sympathetic.

Soon the nurse came out, told me my colleague would be leaving the hospital soon, so don't give her anything anymore. It was her way of throwing her weight around, but I didn't care; my mission was completed.

Many complained about the gym's initial response to the news

Thankfully my colleague was less stressed having some of her things with her, and I hope she will be OK in quarantine. Hong Kong government health officials are taking every possible case seriously -- my colleague will be quarantined for two weeks in a government camp and an additional two weeks at home, as she may develop symptoms later.

While this was happening at work, my gym sent an urgent email at 1.45am in the morning, stating there was a member who tested positive for the coronavirus, and that he used the gym in three different locations in the span of six days, including my gym. Thankfully I was not there that day, but still, as infectious disease experts have said, the virus can live on surfaces for a long time.

However, the gym claimed that the three infected gyms already had a deep cleaning overnight so it was ready to use the next day.

A lot of gym members, including me didn't think so. In fact I had sent the gym an email 10 days ago, pointing out it was unwise to be encouraging members to use different locations, and to even have a promotion where members can bring their friends for a one-month pass. I pointed out even though you may be taking people's temperatures at the door, and cleaning a bit more (untrue), gym users can be asymptomatic and pass on the virus.

Now members can opt for membership suspension for 14 days

The gym ignored my concerns and now there is not just one infected gym, but three. Oh and there was another person who was tested positive and went to one of the three gyms.

As soon as members read the notice, many of them wrote angry emails demanding their membership be suspended for two weeks without additional cost (it's usually HK$288 per month to suspend). The story was picked up by the media, and by the end of the day, the gym at first closed the three affected gyms at dinnertime this evening, and then sent another email that the gyms would be further disinfected and closed for two weeks so that staff could undergo self-quarantine.

Oh, and yes people's memberships will be suspended without charge. Finally!

Why should it take bad publicity and a barrage of complaints from members for the gym to change its decision on how to deal with a life-threatening virus?

We understand the need to survive financially, but honestly, we are all in the same boat. Being greedy and unsympathetic is not good business ethics in the long term.

In the meantime this evening I ran along the waterfront and it was a good feeling to be out there. Too bad the forecast is for isolated thunderstorms tomorrow...