Health officials this afternoon confirmed that two doctors quarantined after caring for patients infected with the Wuhan coronavirus have tested negative for the potentially fatal illness.
The all-clear comes after the two doctors, who worked at the Prince of Wales Hospital, reported experiencing pneumonia symptoms after caring for infected patients, despite wearing full protective gear.
Vivien Chuang — the Hospital Authority’s chief manager for infection, emergency, and contingency — reassured reporters today that the protective equipment provided to healthcare workers was sufficient, and that Hong Kong’s infection control standards take reference from international standards by the WHO and CDC.
Healthcare workers weren’t the only people worried about protective gear amid soaring coronavirus fears, as evidenced by the widespread shortage of face masks in the city and long queues for the few that remain.
Stepping in with one dubious solution was pro-Beijing lawmaker Ann Chiang, who shared on Facebook a short video claiming that if you steam a used face mask at 100 degrees Celsius, you can use it again.
Chiang — who doesn’t have a medical background — is the health spokesperson for the largest pro-Beijing party, the DAB, and also chairs the Legislative Council’s health services panel.
After being ridiculed online for the video, she doubled down on the claim this afternoon during a Q&A session with health officials, leading to a testy exchange with Centre for Health Protection controller Wong Ka-hing, after he refused to endorse her homey (i.e. likely ineffective) tactic.
“What if I can’t buy any surgical masks? The public do not have so many masks as you do,” Chiang said in the hearing, gesturing reproachfully at Wong. “Is it possible to sterilize masks at home?”
“That doesn’t work, according to my understanding,” Wong replied, to a smattering of applause.
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Not satisfied with the answer, Chiang responded, “I would like you to check again.”
Hours later, in a bit of rare subtle shade on the part of a government agency, the CHP posted on Facebook an illustration of a face mask being steamed in a pot with the caption, “Surgical masks can be washed, steamed, and reused?! Don’t believe in these rumors!”
It goes on to say: “Used surgical masks are contaminated with pathogens and must be dumped in a covered bin. The efficacy of face masks would be affected when they’re wet. Don’t easily believe in online messages from unreliable sources.”
https://www.facebook.com/CentreforHealthProtection/photos/a.975137902502127/3280699641945930/?type=3&theater
Even after the CHP’s Facebook post, however, Chiang refused to back down. In a very lengthy post of her own, she wrote: “The CHP says masks can only be used once. I agree that’s the best way, however, I want to point out that a face mask is made up of three layers. The middle layer, made of polypropylene fibre, is used to filter viruses. The melting point of polypropylene fibre is 167 degrees. It can withstand heat and be steam-sterilised.”
She also quoted Ho Pak-leung, an infectious disease expert from the University of Hong Kong, who warned that some medical workers were infected with SARS in 2003 after repeatedly using face masks.
“In my opinion, Dr Ho Pak-leung was right in saying that, this is due to the repeated use of non-sterilized masks,” wrote Chiang, who, again, is not a doctor.
“An expert from the National Health Commission, Li Lanjuan, said the new coronavirus can be killed at 56 degrees, while microbiologist Professor Yuen Kwok-yung also said the virus easily dies at 30 degrees. Therefore, steam-sterilising face masks is not unfeasible.”
OK, Dr. Chiang (her doctorate is in law), maybe let’s leave what’s “feasible” to the professionals, shall we? (In the meantime, if you can’t get your hands on face masks, try not to freak out. Experts say that frequently washing your hands is just as effective at preventing the spread of disease, if not more so. But hey, what do they know, right Ann?)
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