■普及社區檢測能夠讓政府準確評估社區內病毒傳播的情況，找出隱形傳播者。 資料圖片【原文】因應新冠疫情稍為緩和，政府於9月2日再度宣布放寬社交距離措施，由本月4日起延長晚市堂食時間到晚上10時，同時按摩院、健身中心及部分室內運動場所亦可重開。修訂防疫措施是政府平衡防疫和經濟民生需要的審慎決定，但並不意味着疫情受控，市民應該繼續做好防疫工作，不可掉以輕心。疫情有機會隨着放寬措施而反覆，更凸顯普及社區檢測的重要性，只有越多市民踴躍參與，才有更大機會阻斷隱形傳播鏈，同時讓政府準確評估社區疫情，從而制定更準確有效的防疫策略，保障市民健康安全。
政府宣布由9月4日起，晚市堂食時間多一小時，其他限制措施例如最多兩人一枱等繼續維持，又會容許按摩院、健身中心、部分室內運動場、遊樂場所在有限制下重開，卡拉OK、酒吧、遊戲機中心、派對房間等表列處所則繼續關閉。食衞局局長陳肇始表示，政府聽到市民的聲音而作出少許的放寬，但同時市民晚飯堂食時間越長，感染風險越大，必須盡量在各方面平衡。
防疫與重啟經濟民生並不矛盾，推行並且執行好防疫措施，正是為了早日控制疫情、恢復經濟民生。本港在仍有不明源頭個案的情況下，要逐步恢復經濟活動，更加凸顯普及社區檢測的必要性。正如衞生防護中心傳染病處主任張竹君所指，普及社區檢測能夠讓政府準確評估社區內病毒傳播的情況，找出隱形傳播者，亦可以知道這些傳播者的行業、地區分布。公務員事務局局長聶德權亦提醒市民，政府一直研究豁免到內地的14天檢疫安排，以及與其他地方商討推行「旅遊氣泡」，而普及社區檢測對推行相關政策有一定的參考作用，越多人參與做檢測，越有利於香港可以恢復與周邊地區的人員往來。由此可見，市民積極參與普及社區檢測意義重大，越多人參與，檢測的數字就越準確，參考價值就越大。
政府放寬防疫限制，並不意味市民可以對防疫鬆一口氣。本港第三波疫情爆發，多位專家均指出與第二波疫情後過快放寬限聚措施、市民急於參與群聚活動有關。因此社會各界必須吸取上一波疫情反彈的教訓，市民切切不能掉以輕心，不可因為抗疫疲勞而令風險意識下降，仍須以寧緊勿鬆的態度，持之以恒做好個人、家庭的衞生防護，以行動支持普及社區檢測，共同打贏抗疫硬仗。（ 摘錄自香港《文匯報》社評2020-9-3）
Maintain awareness of pandemic prevention as social distancing relaxes
【譯文】As the Covid-19 pandemic gradually comes under control, the government announced on 2 September that social distancing measures are to be relaxed again.
Starting from 4 September, dine-in services at restaurants would be extended to 22:00, while other venues such as massage parlours, fitness centres and some indoor sports premises are also to be reopened. The government's decision to relax the social distancing measures is made prudently to strike a balance between pandemic prevention and control and economic needs, it does not necessarily mean that the Covid-19 pandemic is under full control. The public should remain vigilant and maintain personal and environmental hygiene. As the pandemic may rebound due to the relaxation of social distancing measures, mass testing in the community has become all the more important. The more citizens actively participate in the universal testing scheme, the higher the chance is to break the invisible transmission chains. Also, a higher participation rate will allow the government to assess the pandemic situation more accurately, thus enabling them to formulate more effective measures to combat the coronavirus.
According to the government, dine-in service hours in restaurants could extend by an hour starting from 4 September, with other restrictions such as no more than two persons seating together per table remaining however. Massage parlours, gyms, certain indoor sports facilities, and playgrounds could also reopen conditionally.
But other venues such as karaoke, bars, game centres, party rooms have to remain closed. Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee says the social distancing measures are partially relaxed as the government is aware of the voices of the people. But at the same time, the longer the citizens dine-in at restaurants, the greater the risks of infection are. The government must try to balance all aspects.
The prevention of Covid-19 and the resumption of normal daily lives are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the purpose of disease prevention measures is precisely to get the pandemic under control as soon as possible so that the economy and the people's livelihood could resume normal.
As there are still confirmed Covid-19 cases that are of unknown origin in Hong Kong, the importance of universal community testing has become even more apparent if we were to resume economic activities. Just as Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan, head of the Centre for Health Protection's communicable disease branch, pointed out, universal community testing enables the government to better gauge the COVID-19 infection situation in Hong Kong, find out asymptomatic patients, and understand better the sectoral and geographical distribution of cases. Meanwhile, the Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen has also reminded the public that the government has been looking to reach an agreement with mainland China regarding the exemption of the 14-day quarantine, and that travel bubble negotiations with other regions are on-going.
According to Nip, the data obtained from universal community testing will be useful to the government's efforts, and a higher participation rate could accelerate the resumption of connections with neighbouring regions. It has become apparent that the active engagement of citizens in universal community testing is of great significance. The more people participate, the more accurate the test numbers and the greater the reference value.
The government's decision to relax social distancing measures does not suggest that citizens can finally lower their guard. Many experts have pointed out that the third wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong was related to social distancing measures being relaxed too soon after the second wave, and that the public was too eager to resume social activities.
Therefore, the society must learn the lesson and stay vigilant. Everyone must fight against anti-epidemic fatigue and take a firm attitude in maintaining personal and household hygiene. Support universal community testing with action and win the fight together against Covid-19.■Jeffrey Tse
Exercise
1. (感染)群組
2. 追蹤
3. 症狀
4. 呼吸道樣本
5. 拭子/棉花棒
Answer
1. cluster
2. to trace
3. symptom(s)
4. respiratory specimens
5. swab