Home quarantine challenges families

Heartwarming moments

Not just the smart wristbands, but food, presented even more difficult challenges for the couple. Their family members are all in Guangdong. There was no one helping them to buy groceries and other necessities.

During the first week of self-isolation, Mui and Hui were too embarrassed to impose their needs on others. Their meals consisted only of vegetables they had bought on the way back home on the day they arrived and some food they had left in refrigerator before the Lunar New Year holiday.

After a week, their fridge was bare. The couple had to call the hotline number, arranged by the Social Welfare Department, for quarantined people in need of help.

"We didn't know whether the government could help us solve food problems. I felt embarrassed asking employees to buy vegetables for us." Mui recalled.

Beyond all of Mui's expectations, a staff member assured him the department could provide two meal boxes, including meat and vegetables, for each person, every day.

"We didn't need to cook by ourselves," Mui said. Mui and Hui appreciated the social workers and the government staff who ensured they had something to eat every day. "They lent us a hand when we felt helpless."

The government staff also gave them surgical masks to wear after the quarantine ended and gave additional guidance on caring for themselves.

The couple thanked the volunteers who give them an anti-epidemic package containing food and disinfectant after the quarantine. "These things are very useful," they said.

Mui expressed his gratitude to the volunteers, social workers and government officers who helped to ease the stress of two week of challenges.

Although feeling like "being put behind bars at home" in those days, Mui and Hui reckoned compliance with the quarantine is a citizens' duty.

"This is not only good for others who are worried about being infected, but also good for our own health," Mui said.

More than 6,000 people were under home quarantine in Hong Kong by Feb 27, according to the Department of Health.

Having gone through their own trial amid the coronavirus outbreak, the couple extended best wishes and hopes for good health to all. They also expressed hope for an early end to the epidemic so that people no longer have to hide indoors.