Thank you, Asia. "Handling Covid-19" (76 days until Wisconsin)

March 16, 2021

Hong Kong is one of the strictest places to be in the world right now, as far as Covid-19 measures are concerned.  While at times frustrating and inconvenient, by and large I am very grateful for living in Hong Kong during this pandemic.  Yes, our restrictions and self-isolation (and run on toilet paper) started about six weeks earlier than that of the US, but here nothing was politicized.  

I am grateful for the memory of SARS kicking in here; it meant that over 48 hours everyone (except us expats) went from few masks to all masks just. like. that.  Conscious awareness of community needs and greater good meant that being compliant with social distancing and government measures just happened.  Yes, people complained - but they did it.  

Yes, we have had long stretches of school online.  We have had no beaches available since a few weeks into last summer.  We have had almost all forms of recreation closed as well as no dining after 6 pm and no bars open for months and months.  And yes, even now, any resident returning to Hong Kong must self-isolate in government-selected hotel for THREE WEEKS.  But, we also have had .0001 percent of the population get infected and fewer than 200 deaths in the 13 months Covid has been raging in Asia and worldwide (population 7.5 million).

And today I got my first "jab," as the Brits say.  In three weeks I will return for the second.  I got in pretty early in the vaccination process because I am a teacher and they prioritized us quite early.  Thank you, Hong Kong.