Many countries are facing a resurgence of COVID-19 and nowhere is that resurgence more painful than in Hong Kong. After weeks with no cases at all, the virus has struck back in the crowded island and strict control measures have been reinstated. This week, Jan speaks to Yvonne Ng, a young PhD student who was born and brought up in Hong Kong. As a particle physicist Yvonne spent the last 11 years dividing her time between the US and Europe. She was working at CERN, (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, when the Centre was abruptly closed following cases of COVID-19 at the beginning of March. As borders rapidly closed around her, Yvonne returned to self-isolate in Hong Kong and face the memories of the SARS epidemic of 2003, which is etched on the consciousness of an entire generation. Yvonne believes that the traumatic impact of that previous epidemic has shaped the public response to COVID-19 and helps explain the early success in controlling the spread.
Many countries are facing a resurgence of COVID-19 and nowhere is that resurgence more painful than in Hong Kong. After weeks with no cases at all, the virus has struck back in the crowded island and strict control measures have been reinstated. This week, Jan speaks to Yvonne Ng, a young PhD student who was born and brought up in Hong Kong. As a particle physicist Yvonne spent the last 11 years dividing her time between the US and Europe. She was working at CERN, (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, when the Centre was abruptly closed following cases of COVID-19 at the beginning of March. As borders rapidly closed around her, Yvonne returned to self-isolate in Hong Kong and face the memories of the SARS epidemic of 2003, which is etched on the consciousness of an entire generation. Yvonne believes that the traumatic impact of that previous epidemic has shaped the public response to COVID-19 and helps explain the early success in controlling the spread.