Hong Kong defends practice of restraining some babies in COVID-19 wards
18 March, 2021
Hong Kong health authorities have got defended the practice of physically restraining some babies and children to beds in COVID-19 isolation wards after criticism created over the treatment of families under the city's stringent anti-virus measures.
Despite being perhaps one of the most densely packed cities in the world, Hong Kong has kept infections low because of probably the most stringent quarantine measures on the planet, recording about 11,000 infections and 200 deaths since the pandemic began.
Anyone who tests great for the coronavirus is immediately taken to isolation wards - regardless of whether they are symptomatic or perhaps not - and the ones deemed "close contacts" are sent to mandatory government quarantine camps.
Virtually all arrivals into the town must quarantine in dedicated hotels for three weeks.
The measures have helped curb infections and also have been in place for a lot of the past year, largely without complaint.
But there's been developing pushback in latest weeks after an outbreak reach neighbourhoods favoured by wealthier - and more politically linked - white-collar locals and foreigners.
Public media groups have since filled with comments by families taken up to isolation wards or mandatory quarantine camps.
Their complaints include allegations that some parents have already been separated from their children, ordered never to breastfeed babies and that some infants have even been tied to beds to avoid them moving around.
The allegations have led to a series of statements this week from health authorities defending their policies, including over the utilization of restraints.
"Generally speaking, a healthcare facility will simply consider the use of physical restraint on paediatric clients for the safeness and well-being of the patient," the Hospital Authority explained in a statement later on Wednesday (Mar 17).
"Appropriate and prior consent will come to be sought from the father and mother or guardians," it again added.
A HEALTHCARE FACILITY Authority added parents who test negative would usually be permitted to accompany infected children on isolation wards if there is space.
In recent days, the consulates of Switzerland, Britain and america have all expressed concerns over how Hong Kong's tough anti-virus methods were impacting families, including concerns that parents had about being separated from children.
The US consulate temporarily closed earlier this week after two workers tested positive and were delivered to an isolation ward.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam verified special permission had been granted to permit their children to become listed on them rather than being directed into quarantine.
Hong Kong's treatment of moms through the pandemic has previously come under scrutiny.
Last year, a group of expecting parents fought an finally successful campaign to permit birth partners into the delivery room after they were banned throughout a spike in coronavirus cases.
World Health Organization rules recommend birth partners be present, even through the pandemic, and that infected moms continue breastfeeding their infants.
While authorities relented on birth companions, Hong Kong continues to tell mothers never to breastfeed in isolation wards.
Authorities also have defended the use of mandatory quarantine camps, arguing the majority of Hong Kong's notoriously cramped flats are too little for families to self-isolate safely.
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