A new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has arrived in Hong Kong and some untraceable confirmed cases of the Omicron variant have emerged. Medical experts and the government are doing battle by implementing rigorous rules. To cut off transmission chains and discover the origins, more restrictions have been placed on the community, catering businesses, places of amusement and public entertainment, theme parks, hospital visits and so on. Moreover, a “vaccine bubble” scheme is being promoted to encourage the public to get vaccinated. The bubble will later cover schools and some cultural and leisure facilities such as libraries. Considering that Covid-19 is potentially deadly but certainly treatable, everyone definitely needs to work together to battle it.
The global pandemic is certainly worrying. The United States recorded a million confirmed cases just in a single day. Japan and South Korea, which are popular vacation destinations for Hong Kongers, have also record several thousand cases a day on average.
More countries have increased preventive measures. In this difficult time, Pope Francis released his message for the 30th World Day of the Sick: Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful [Luke 6:36] in which he invites us to listen to the sick and show charity and kindness.
The pope especially gives thanks to those who provide intensive care to patients and recognises them as “witnesses of charity.” Their presence is very important because they not only care for the patients’ physical pain and suffering, but also offer them psychological consolation. Lonely patients are given hope.
These witnesses include the hospital chaplains who have to observe various restrictions as they minister. Some of them resent not being able to remain at the bedsides of the sick, but it is understandable that medical staff also need to observe preventive measures. The chaplains have implemented online visits to overcome restrictions, which is indeed an expedient solution.
Besides the sick, the pope also mentions those homes for the elderly who are waiting for visits. They are generally prohibited from going out during the pandemic in Hong Kong. Visits by non-residents are suspended and families can only hand over necessities to the staff at the entrance of the facility.
Many in homes for the elderly have not seen their families for more than a year. Being completely isolated from the outside world, they are often troubled by negative emotions and pessimistic thoughts. Moreover, since most of them do not know how to make a video call on a smartphone, they can only contact their families and friends outside using a standard land line.
The people these elderly always see are the healthcare workers in the homes. They stay with them from dusk till dawn and know each one. They can be called the “neighbours” of the elderly.
The pope encourages us to pray for the medical staff and volunteers, that they may be compassionate to the sick, consider each of them as an individual with dignity, and provide appropriate and loving care, so that they may become God’s “witnesses of charity.” SE
