Dozens of confirmed cases had to wait to be hospitalised in March, as the Centre for Health Protection admitted they struggled to find enough beds to cope with daily cases.
One confirmed case was left at home for almost two days in a subdivided flat.It's raised concerns about how authorities tackle infections in homes where the risk of community outbreaks is high.
Scroll down for the full script.
(Aired on ViuTVSix on 30 March 2020)
Full script:
For more than 36 hours since being confirmed with the coronavirus, “Wong” has been at home - a subdivided flat near Prince Edward.
(Phone interview - “Wong”)
“I feel worried. I’m confirmed with the virus and I’m living with my mother in a smaller-than-200-square-feet flat.
She could get sick as she’s cooped up with me in such a tight space.”
The 21-year-old didn’t want to show the inside of his home, or his face.
He said he didn’t want more people to give more grief to his mother.
She’s already been stigmatised by the neighbours who know she’s living with a confirmed patient.
“Everyone’s emotionally unstable. The neighbours scold us and say they weren’t informed about me.
But we’re victims too.”
Wong had phoned health authorities multiple times, after he learnt he was infected Saturday.
But they kept telling him that there weren’t enough beds.
District Councillor Lee Kwok-kuen has been keeping in touch with Wong over the phone.
While authorities are saying patients with mild symptoms may be asked to stay at home, Lee disagrees with this.
(Soundbite, LEE KWOK-KUEN, District Councillor, Tai Nan Constituency)
“This was a very risky situation. His mother didn’t have the virus and she should have been sent to a safe facility for quarantine. Home stay is not appropriate.
When authorities say they don’t have enough hospital beds, did they only find out about that today?”
Lee praised the Food and Health Department for reacting quickly and disinfecting the street where Wong lived.
But he says the government is yet to develop a response strategy dealing with confirmed cases living in cramped, subdivided houses.
Many have poorly designed gutters, and poor ventilation, and are at high risk of being spreading grounds for the disease.
Earlier today, we checked in with “Wong” over the phone.
“It’s Monday, March 30 and at 12 noon, I’m still in my home.”
Medics finally took him to hospital around 1pm.
- ENDS -