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Covid-19 in Hong Kong: 5 years later

Photo: Sam Tsang

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Society

Covid-19 dashed volleyball dreams but led Hongkonger to become Taoist priest

The pandemic ended Oscar Ko’s dream of a career in sports, but opened the door to a new religious life. Photo: Handout

 Oscar Ko says being a Taoist priest has taught him a lot about humanity. Photo: Edmond So

Oscar Ko switched from seeking sports glory to religion, serving others who faced loss and grief.


Hong Kong kids with special needs still struggling to walk, talk after Covid curbs

Sophia Wang Kai-yan undergoes developmental therapy with a childcare worker as her mother Cecilia Wong looks on. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong authorities closed all playgrounds during the Covid-19 pandemic, including this one in Kai Tak. Photo: Felix Wong

Cecilia Wong with her daughters Sophia and Chloe, who continue to struggle after special care services were suspended during the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Edmond So

Closure of schools and play areas, disrupted therapy sessions took a toll on children already needing specialised care.


Hongkonger’s worsening eczema, food allergies fuel her doubts over Covid jabs

Eunice To has more than 40 types of food allergies which she believes were triggered by the Covid-19 jabs she received. Photo: Edmond So

Eunice To says her eczema had worsened since 2021. Photo: Handout 

Professor Philip Li, chief of rheumatology and clinical immunology at the University of Hong Kong, at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Experts say there must be better health communication and efforts to raise awareness in a future pandemic.


Will Hong Kong do better when next big public health crisis hits?

Infectious disease experts visit Wai Lee Building in Quarry Bay in February 2021. Photo: Sam Tsang

Covid-19 patients wait at a temporary holding area outside Caritas Medical Centre in Cheung Sha Wan in February 2022. Photo: Sam Tsang

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung agrees that the experience and infrastructure developed for Covid-19 has better prepared the city for future pandemics. Photo: May Tse

Laboratory workers collect sewage samples in Jordan in January 2021. Photo: Nora Tam

Experts confident history will not repeat itself if another pandemic strikes but say more must be done to strengthen public confidence and healthcare services.


5 years after first Covid case, why can’t Hong Kong make home-grown vaccines?

Experts have said it will be ideal for a Hong Kong-designed vaccine to be produced in mainland China. Photo: Xinhua

Professor Leo Poon, a HKU virologist leading some flu vaccine development work, says Hong Kong has a strong foundation in basic science research and that means the city can do more. Photo: Sun Yeung

Home-grown vaccines stuck at animal trials need hefty funding to move to next stage of tests on humans.


In this series to mark five years since Covid-19 struck Hong Kong, the Post looks at how some residents’ lives changed and examines the city’s readiness for the next global pandemic.


Series