There’s going to be an interruption to your regularly scheduled programming today, folks. The Center for Health Protection won’t be hosting their daily coronavirus briefing this afternoon.
Why? Because, after eight consecutive days of our new infections going up in single-digit increments, Hong Kong has recorded zero new COVID-19 infections today.
We came pretty close on Thursday, but this is the first time since March 5 that the city’s number of new coronavirus cases hasn’t increased.
Given what we know about the disease’s ability spread via silent transmissions and the amount of people who flouted social distancing guidelines over the Easter weekend, it’s far too early to take this as a sign that Hong Kong’s got the outbreak under control. However, since the representatives from the CHP and HA aren’t here to stress the importance of social distancing and hygiene, we’ll just remind you of some coronavirus no-nos (#CoroNoNos, if you will):
- Touching your face. Do we even need to explain this one? You have no idea if you’ve come in contact with the virus, so quit rubbing your eye or wiping your nose.
- Having dirty hands. Same as the above, this is just common sense. Wash your hands whenever you can, because no matter how diligent you think you’re being, you’ve probably touched your face without realizing a dozen times already. Hand sanitizer will work in a pinch, but it’s not as effective.
- Not wearing a mask. Anyone who lived through SARS-era Hong Kong already knows the importance of wearing a mask, and even the WHO and CDC have now come around. Even if you don’t believe they work, be considerate. You’re not only wearing the mask to protect yourself, you’re wearing it to protect every single person you come into contact with. Cover your face, then look up the words “asymptomatic carrier”.
