Hong Kong’s coronavirus testing drive tests negative for popularity
By Shibani Mahtani and Ryan Ho Kilpatrick,
Washington Post
| 09. 01. 2020
HONG KONG — Borrowing from mainland China's pandemic playbook, Hong Kong officials began a drive Tuesday to mass-test residents for the novel coronavirus, hoping for near-universal participation to flaunt the city's civic sensibilities and patriotism.
Authorities readied more than 100 sample collection centers and thousands of volunteer medical staff to work them. State media ran stories praising the city's government while touting the ability of officials in mainland China to run millions of tests a day. Fliers distributed to households publicized the seven-day exercise that could be extended for up to two weeks.
But there were few takers.
By 4 p.m. on Tuesday, eight hours after the program began, 82,000 people had come forward — slightly over 1 percent of the population and far below the daily average required to reach the government’s target of 5 million. Most testing centers were quiet; health workers in protective gear and face shields sat around idle.
Although it was just the first day of the campaign, the outcome highlighted the yawning trust deficit between Hong Kong leaders and residents, rather than showcasing...
Related Articles
By Alcott Wei, South China Morning Post | 07.13.2024
China has banned all clinical research involving germline genome editing under a newly released ethics guideline.
Germline gene engineering relates to altering the DNA in sperm, eggs or early embryos to introduce changes that can be inherited.
“Any clinical research...
By Staff, Japan Times | 07.10.2024
Photo by Roméo A. on Unsplash
How did Japanese society, which was supposed to have transformed into a democracy after World War II, justify discrimination against people with disabilities and openly endorse eugenics?
This is a key question people may...
By Rachel Clayton, ABC News | 07.08.2024
In her early 30s, Michelle Galea wasn't convinced motherhood was for her.
"I didn't know if I wanted a child or if society was telling me I should have a child right now," she said.
But as she watched two...
By Amanda Becker and Shefali Luthra, The 19th | 07.08.2024
Image by Duke University Archives from Flickr
Republicans have adopted a slate of policy positions ahead of next week’s convention that does not call for a federal legislative abortion ban, but opens the door to establishing fetal personhood.
The Republican...