Hong Kong shows the world that there’s a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, so long as people work together to keep everyone safe and everything functioning as smoothly as possible.
The city has managed to flatten the curve and control the spread of coronavirus without implementing a lockdown, keeping the number of positive cases at a little over 1,000 as of this writing. But extra safety precautions are still in place.
In a ranking by Deep Knowledge Ventures (DKV), Hong Kong placed in the top 10 Asia Pacific countries considered to be the safest places to be in during the outbreak.
DKV ranked 20 Asia Pacific countries based on the lowest likelihood of infection, lowest chance of mortality, and highest likelihood of recovery based on efficiency of quarantine and government management, monitoring and detection, as well as emergency treatment readiness.
These are the safety measures put in place to ensure that citizens are taken care of.
Utilizing technology
In light of the current situation, trains, buses, and taxis have all stepped up with more rigorous cleansing procedures and services to give their riders peace of mind.
Leading the way is train service company MTR Corporation, which recently started to utilize an army of Vapourised Hydrogen Peroxide Robots to strategically and thoroughly decontaminate its train carriages and stations.
High-contact station facilities such as ticket issuing machines, elevator buttons, and handrails are disinfected with bleach solution every two hours. Even the air conditioner filters on the trains are washed and replaced at more frequent intervals than before.
At Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Intelligent Sterilisation Robots (ISR)—previously only used in hospitals—have been deployed to kill germs and viruses using a combination of UV light technology, 360-degree spray nozzles, and air filters.
HKIA is the first airport in the world to use ISRs in a non-clinical setting.
Public transportation promotes safety
Most taxi drivers today are driving with face masks on as a courtesy to their passengers, and many have bottles of hand sanitizer attached to the back of the driver’s seat for riders to use at their convenience.
Not to be outdone, double-decker bus company KMB has started installing hand sanitizer dispensers on buses, as well as at various stations. KMB buses also provide floor mats sprinkled with bleach solution to conveniently help disinfect passengers’ shoes as they get on board.
Creative solutions
Despite cancellations, many of the city’s organizers have come up with a Plan B to allow guests to experience the joys of social gatherings while social distancing.
The world-renowned Art Basel Hong Kong 2020 swapped a physical exhibition for online viewing rooms, showcasing more than 2,000 art pieces from 235 galleries from around the globe.
Art Central, another large-scale art fair, allows visitors to easily sort through more than 500 artworks by artist, exhibitor, size, price, and medium. Other virtual galleries such as K11 Art Foundation, Sotheby’s Hong Kong, and M+ Collections Beta are also available to keep the art community connected and entertained.
Artistic relief
Asia Society Hong Kong, meanwhile, has teamed up with The Hong Kong Art Gallery Association to stage a one-month sculpture exhibition, featuring pieces from international and local galleries, and a full-day Art Talk Programme that is live-streamed on Facebook.
Homegrown community platform ART Power HK sprung up this year to make up for the gap in the regular arts calendar by partnering with respected authorities and hosting a series of thought-provoking events and conversations online.
Staying true to his brand’s playful spirit, Douglas Young of lifestyle chain G.O.D. (Goods of Desire) reminds the community to keep positive amid the COVID-19 pandemic by launching a line of fabric face masks available in multiple colors and quirky designs.
“Naturally, they are just fashion masks, but I want to inject a sense of humor to help people reduce stress during the current situation,” shared Douglas.
Keeping the public informed
On the health protection front, the Centre for Health Protection provides a comprehensive case-tracking news bulletin on its website to provide residents with the latest coronavirus news.