- Pandemic advisers say influenza immunity low so facial coverings in cold weather still needed for protection, but children’s rights group flags delays in speech development
- City remains one of the few places in the world to retain facial-covering rule
Hong Kong has renewed its mask mandate into March despite dropping almost all Covid restrictions. Photo: Jonathan WongWhile some Hong Kong health experts on Thursday backed the city’s extension of its mask mandate to March 8, children’s rights groups have questioned the move and raised concerns it would further jeopardise the development of young residents.
Health authorities a day earlier announced the two-week extension, which applies to public transport, paid areas in MTR and public spaces. Offenders will be fined HK$5,000 on the spot.
The decision came hot on the heels of Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po’s renewed pledge to revive a Covid-hit economy in his latest budget blueprint unveiled earlier on Wednesday.
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Government pandemic adviser Professor Ivan Hung Fan-ngai on Thursday voiced support for the extension, saying influenza viruses could be better contained under warmer temperatures.
“When we lift the mask mandate, there is likely to be a resurgence of flu cases,” he warned. “But if we scrap the mask mandate in warmer weather, the virus will be less active and the risk of developing complications will be lower.”
He added the city’s population had a weaker immunity against influenza and other upper respiratory tract infections due to limited exposure in the past few years.
Hung suggested removing the outdoor mask mandate in early March, after the current extension expires, and to further drop the indoor requirement in April if there was no significant surge in influenza or related infections.
The government reviews the mask mandate every two weeks.
However, even if the rules were to be lifted, residents were still advised to keep their masks on voluntarily in high-risk venues, including hospitals, clinics and residential care homes, as well as in crowded places such as on public transport, Hung said.
Another government pandemic adviser Professor David Hui Shu-cheong said the extension was unsurprising, citing the cold weather which allowed respiratory viruses to be more active.
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He added that late March or April would be a better time to scrap the mask mandate.
Parents have however voiced concerns over the move, with the Hong Kong Committee on Children’s Rights receiving a dozen complaints from Wednesday night and calling on the government to drop the rule as soon as possible.
“Given that we are essentially living with the virus, why do we still need such a rigid rule?” argued Billy Wong Wai-yuk, executive secretary of the group.
“Young children are at a critical period for language acquisition. They are learning how to communicate with people through speech and understand emotions through facial expressions, but they can hardly do that with a mask on.”
She added some paediatricians under the group had observed more cases of developmental delays in speech and hearing among young children in the past few years amid the pandemic.
Hong Kong remains one of the few cities in the world where wearing a mask outdoors is compulsory, three years into the pandemic. In mainland China, masks are only needed indoors.
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Drugstores and pharmacies had earlier slashed prices on masks, according to an SCMP observation, following remarks by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu two weeks ago on considerations to do away with the facial coverings after the flu season.
According to latest figures from the Department of Health, seasonal influenza levels in Hong Kong have remained low.
In the week between February 5 and 11, 32.4 cases of influenza were detected at private clinics for every 1,000 consultations.
As of February 11, four severe influenza cases have been recorded, comprising one patient aged under 17, one between 18 and 49 years old, and two aged 65 or above.