Terrible consequences of the fight against Covid-19 in Hong Kong

Strict isolation policies in Hong Kong (China) with the aim of preventing Covid-19 at the border and in the community are being criticized for taking a toll on the economy and mental health. In addition, environmentalists also condemn these policies that are damaging the environment by creating excess waste.

“All the staff at the hotel are wearing protective gear. The remote control or everything is wrapped in cellophane,” – Ms. Clemetine Vaughan, who arrived in Hong Kong on April 4, commented. .

According to government figures, Hong Kong produces more than 2,300 tons of plastic a day, and because the recycling rate is only about 11%, most of this waste ends up in landfills. A government spokesman said officials were aware of the situation and had urged people to adopt a green lifestyle as much as possible.

A garbage dump in Hong Kong is pictured on April 11. Photo: Reuters

Hong Kong, one of the few places to apply a zero Covid policy, has quarantined thousands of people this year in facilities for Covid-19 patients and close contacts.

The facilities add to the waste problem, with multiple people confirming to Reuters news agency that meals are wrapped in plastic bags. Paul Zimmerman, a county councilor, said the facilities are also a waste because they cannot be used for long. “They were built very hastily and did not comply with any specific building standards in Hong Kong,” Zimmerman was quoted as saying.

Sanitation workers wearing protective gear dispose of trash at an isolated hotel in Hong Kong. Photo: Reuters

In another development, the administration of President Joe Biden will no longer apply the mandatory requirement to wear masks on public transport. The decision comes after a federal judge in Florida on April 18 ruled that the 14-month-old directive was illegal, upsetting a key White House effort to reduce corruption. spread of Covid-19.

Immediately after the announcement, many major airlines such as American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and the national train line Amtrak eased restrictions immediately.

The ruling by Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, was made in a lawsuit filed last year by the Medical Freedom Defense group in Tampa, Florida. Judge Mizelle said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) overstepped its authority by requiring masks to be worn, failed to consult with the public, and failed to adequately explain their decisions. .

Passengers wear masks at the airport in Denver, Colorado. Photo: Reuters

While agencies are assessing potential next steps, the court’s decision means that the CDC’s regulation of wearing masks on public transportation is no longer in effect, a US official said. However, the administration can still choose to appeal the order or seek an urgent delay in its enforcement.

The ruling comes as Covid-19 cases are on the rise again in the US with an average of 36,251 infections and 460 deaths reported each day. This is the highest number of total deaths from Covid-19 reported in the world.

According to Bao Hanh