Hong Kong will keep its chin up this COVID-19 outbreak and enjoy the small things

As an introvert who loves staying at home, I’ve been thriving during this pandemic. 

The majority of my days now appear to be this: Wake up without an alarm, browse through the web to locate a recipe I like, attempt to recreate the recipe and showcase my knock-off version of the dish on Instagram. 

At some point throughout the day, I also attend university lectures online. Else I would stay home or meet up with a friend for supper, before spending the rest of the evening on Netflix or work until 2am when I pass out.

The majority of my friends have more or less the same routine. 

At first sight, you might think compared to the negative sentiments over lockdowns and other painful stay-home restrictions persons all over the world have expressed, Hong Kongers have incredibly laissez-faire attitudes about the pandemic.

You wouldn’t be completely wrong but it hasn’t been easy coming to this state. 

I'd also argue it’s Hong Kong’s early measures and proactive citizenry who have embraced masks and physical distancing which have allowed society to keep with life as usual, with some semblance of normalcy. 

Protesters have even returned to the road, with 250 arrested on Sunday (May 11).

FROM CHAOS TO CONTROL

To be fair, it hasn’t been a bed of roses for the town for the last couple of months. After recording a surge of cases in the city’s nightlife Lan Kwai Fong district in late March, the federal government quickly put social distancing measures set up, closing bars, gyms and beauty parlours, as well as banning groups of a lot more than four people in public areas spaces. 

Restaurants were ordered to keep tables at least 1.5m apart and put up physical shields between tables to lessen the spread of infection. 

Thinking further aback, Hong Kong has been on high alert since late January. Chaotic scenes of citizens panic-shopping, wiping out cleaning supplies, groceries and face masks were abundant right after the first case was announced on Jan 23.

In February, some control was wrestled back, and precautions to stem the spread rolled out, as shops and restaurants started enforcing temperature checks. Many places required people to complete a health declaration and personnel form in the event of an outbreak. 

After almost four months, Hong Kongers have adapted to the new normal, some even embracing this fresh change, taking good thing about the slower-paced life and far needed time faraway from the city’s usual hustle and bustle. 

With travel plans cancelled and “must-go” Facebook events postponed, many Hong Kongers have found themselves facing a clear social calendar for the very first time in forever.

Many Hong Kongers are pleased to visit their favourite restaurant regardless if it means a longer waiting time when social distancing has limited the quantity of available tables.

But rather than stay in malls and restaurants, where crowds bring risk of infection, more have opted to explore the fantastic outdoors and spend weekends at beaches, hiking trails and parks. 

Unfortunately, what which means is that while Lion Rock, Clearwater Bay and more had been refuges for Hong Kongers wanting a bit of a quiet afternoon get-away, they have already been mad-packed these past few months.

Others have moved the party home, hosting small group game nights and dinner parties at friends’ houses, and hanging out with family.

THE REAL TEST BEGINS

Marking 15 days straight without the local infection, there have been visibly more people out in the city over the long weekend with public holidays to celebrate the Buddha’s birthday on Apr 30 and Labour Day on May 1.

Hong Kong patted itself on the back for a string of days without new infections within the last month, however the streak was cut short when two arrivals from Pakistan tested positive in early May, and a local case of transmission involving a 66-year-old woman and her 5-year-old granddaughter surfaced this week. 

Still, the low number of instances hovering just above 1,000 is a good reason for celebration.

People in Hong Kong, who reside in some of the world's smallest apartments, are finding creative methods to keep fit in the home. (Photo: AFP/Anthony WALLACE)

Now the true test begins. After over per month of remote working, civil servants have returned to government offices. 

As the city’s social distancing measures were eased on Thursday (May 7), entertainment and establishments such as for example cinemas, beauty parlours and gyms also have little by little reopened, but there wasn’t the rush to head to these places. 

CONCERNS OVER THE ECONOMY

Part of this may be because Hong Kongers are tightening their belts amid growing concerns about the state of the economy, which saw a 8.9 % shrinkage in the first quarter, the greatest decline since 1974. 

“Our economic situation is quite challenging. We’re deep into recession,” Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in early May.

Unemployment has been the highest in a lot more than nine years at 4.2 %, with the food and beverage sector the hardest at 8.6 %. 

While the pandemic has undoubtedly damaged all, its deleterious economic impact is not equal. Hong Kongers with smaller apartments might find working and studying from home a massive challenge. Cases of domestic violence have already been on the rise.

The truth is, under the facade of happy hikers and picture-perfect Instagram recipes lie anxiety and fear. 

As a senior finishing my last semester of university, my friends and I have already been losing sleep over unanswered job applications, fearing the worst as the semester creeps to a finish, a plight many who have lost their job understand. 

Although the government is wanting its better to create short-term jobs and relaxing the financial requirements for all those looking to make an application for welfare, families and individuals who have lost their main income source because of lay-offs through the outbreak have little immediate support from the town. 

The government’s HK$137.5 billion (US$17 billion) financial relief package targets keeping businesses running and employees working, ensuring that 1.5 million staff get partial pay through the upcoming months, instead of supporting the unemployed. 

How will Hong Kong change when the pandemic ends and all is well in the world again? 

Around Hong Kongers want to take some pleasure inside our newfound laid-back lifestyle, there’s without doubt that metropolis will waste virtually no time snapping back to the fast-paced routine of shopping, eating and going to the office of course you like and miss. 

But for now, we’re all just trying to keep our chins up, keep it together, and carry on living amid a pandemic. 

That might mean being cooped up in the home for a while more and finding a fresh recipe to test. But that's something.