#14,798
Earlier today, in Hong Kong Increasing Quarantine Facilities For Exposed Contacts Of Coronavirus Cases, we looked at the history of using quarantines to contain SARS, and Hong Kong's plans to expand the number of quarantine centers for close contacts of known cases.
Admittedly, 2019-nCoV isn't SARS and there are genuine concerns that quarantines won't be nearly as effective this time.Still, anyone who doubts Hong Hong's commitment to using quarantines to slow the spread of this virus need only view the latest edict by HK authorities - one that requires anyone who has returned from Hubei Province in the last 14 days to submit to compulsory home quarantine and wear an electronic bracelet.
First the announcement, posted on news.gov.hk, then I'll be back with a brief comment.
Mandatory home quarantine must wear an electronic bracelet
February 3, 2020
The government announced that local residents who had been to Hubei Province within 14 days must return to Hong Kong for home quarantine and wear an electronic bracelet to prevent them from leaving the residence.
Government Information Technology Director Lin Weiqiao attended a press conference today to introduce the operation of the Gu'an anti-epidemic bracelet. The bracelet was developed by the logistics and supply chain multi-technology R & D center to cooperate with the government to combat the new coronavirus infection epidemic and ensure that people subject to compulsory home quarantine will not go out without authorization.
The bracelet cannot be taken off casually and connected with the relevant mobile device. If the mobile phone or bracelet is damaged, or the mobile phone is taken away, the related equipment will immediately notify the Department of Health and the police for follow-up.
Lin Weiqiao said that the bracelet will not collect personal data. The Office of the Government Chief Information Officer has also consulted the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to ensure that the bracelet complies with relevant regulations and will not invade privacy.
He said that 500 bracelets will be put into use within this week; if needed, an additional 1,000 can be added in two weeks.
The Chief Doctor (Emergency Response and Project Management) of the Department of Health, Lian Weici, said that according to the Prevention and Control of Diseases Ordinance, people subject to compulsory quarantine must stay in the designated place at the designated time. Offenders can be imprisoned for six months and fined $ 5,000 , The government will strictly enforce the law.
She said that all government departments will work together to ensure the smooth implementation of home quarantine and provide adequate support to those who are subject to quarantine.
Based on the numbers we're seeing reported out of China, and the relatively mild cases that have turned up so far outside of the Mainland, the extraordinary steps we've seen taken by Chinese officials - and more recently in Hong Kong - seem disproportionate to the threat.
Some of that may be an overreaction - based more on what isn't known than what is known about the virus - and 2019-nCoV may yet turn out to be less serious than their response might suggest.But it is hard to believe that China would willingly sacrifice their economy as they have by shutting down major cities and quarantining tens of millions of people, unless they believed the threat to be substantial.
And since they are the only ones with a front row seat, I believe we have to take our cues more from what they do than from what they say.
