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Coronavirus pandemic
OpinionComment
Isabella Seif
Isabella Seif

Opinion | Hong Kong’s coronavirus quarantine rules must have children’s best interests at heart

  • Despite government assurances, reports of young children and babies being separated from their parents in quarantine are deeply troubling
  • International law and practice can help strike a balance between preventing the spread of Covid-19 and the needs of children

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The Lei Yue Mun quarantine centre shown on December 23, 2020. Recent reports suggest young children and infants are being separated from their parents when being put into mandatory quarantine. Photo: Handout
Isabella Seif

The recent cluster of Covid-19 cases has once again made clear that Hong Kong’s policy of mandatory admission to hospital for positive cases and quarantining of close contacts is problematic when it comes to families and children.

Recent reports in the media have depicted mothers being separated from their children – including breastfed babies – or families confined in small rooms in quarantine centres with a lack of child-appropriate facilities.
For many months, there has been little clarity on the government’s policy, sparking fear among parents not sure of what circumstances could see them separated from their children. The government issued a press release on March 16 explaining how its isolation and quarantine policy operates in relation to children and families.
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For example, if a child is admitted to hospital with Covid-19, a parent could be allowed to accompany the child. If a child and parent are both admitted to hospital, they will consider placing them in the same room, subject to the availability of isolation capacities.

This is a step towards allaying fears, but it raises a question. If this is the policy, why are there so many reports of families being separated against their will? While the release indicates efforts might be made to keep parents and children together, there is no guarantee. A great deal is still left to the discretion of the authorities.

02:36

Hong Kong gym Covid-19 cluster expands to 109 total cases

Hong Kong gym Covid-19 cluster expands to 109 total cases
Many aspects of the policy are still problematic. If a parent tests positive, the child will be deemed a close contact and need to be sent to quarantine. According to the press release, a relative, domestic helper or adult friend of the parents can accompany the child.
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