Unsung heroes assist in HK's worst-ever pandemic battle

HONG KONG - During a heavy drizzle in chilly temperatures, two older adults in wheelchairs arrived at a COVID-19 testing center in Hong Kong to get their tests. Thanks to a group of volunteers, they were able to make it to the center in the pandemic-hit city without much trouble.

Behind the safe and effortless journey and others like it are unsung heroes from all walks of life, who raced to join the city's pandemic battle against the worst-ever wave of COVID-19 infections, which have grown at an exponential rate in the city since February.

One of the heroes is Jacky Ko Chung-kit, secretary-general of the Y. Elites Association. Ko and his association have been working with another 38 youth groups, which enlisted a total of 200 automobile vehicles and 300 volunteers to help transport people and anti-pandemic supplies. Ko also takes a COVID-19 test himself each week.

Despite the improvement in the testing process, Ko said both manpower and testing capabilities are still in short supply, noting the long lines of people waiting outside testing facilities in the cold temperatures, the result of an intense winter monsoon.