Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN)–When CNN reporter Sophie Jung boarded a flight to the United States from Hong Kong to visit her family and spend the holidays, she knew that her return trip would not be easy. But she didn’t expect a new coronavirus mutant to emerge, and she was sent to a government quarantine camp in the city as a result.
In October, Jung was ready to undergo a mandatory 21-day quarantine in a hotel room, upon her return to Hong Kong, one of the few places in the world still adopting a “zero-Covid” approach.
To this end, even before the advent of Omicron, the city imposed the most stringent border controls and quarantines in the world.
Credit: Sophie Jeong/CNN
On November 26, 5 weeks before the return flight, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it had classified the newly discovered new strain of coronavirus in South Africa, “Omicron”, as a mutant of concern.
Concerns about Omicron have sparked a new wave of travel restrictions around the world, including Hong Kong.
And 3 weeks before the scheduled return of Jung from the United States, the Hong Kong government announced that it would impose “the most stringent” quarantine measures on travelers coming from the United States, after only one traveler was confirmed to be infected with “Omicron”.
Accordingly, Jung had to spend the first 4 days of confinement at the government quarantine center instead of the hotel she had already booked.
The Hong Kong government quarantine camp is located in Pines Bay, away from the city center, and hosts people who have been in close contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases, and those arriving from “high risk” countries where cases have been detected. Omicron of them in Hong Kong.
Credit: Sophie Jeong/CNN
Unpredictable, Jung turned to the HK Quarantine Support Group on Facebook, a massive audience-sharing platform with resources for Hong Kongers traveling abroad during the pandemic.
Several people on the group have posted about their previous stone experience in Pennys Bay.
They suggested tips like downloading your favorite Netflix shows, bringing gadgets like a wireless Wi-Fi adapter and an extension cord to food, and more.
the first day
Credit: Sophie Jeong/CNN
Jung’s plane landed at Hong Kong International Airport on January 2.
After leaving the plane, Jung had to provide a QR code she obtained after filling out a health statement form, verifying her phone number, obtaining a quarantine order, and taking a nose and throat swab.
He then asked her to wait for her test result at a designated place before she could collect her luggage, and board a vehicle that took her and five other passengers to Pennys Bay. I waited 3 and a half hours.
After passing through several green gates, the vehicle passed rows of colorful two-story buildings that looked like stacked shipping containers, before directing them to the reception desk.
Credit: Sophie Jeong/CNN
The staff, who wore blue hoods and gowns, face shields, masks and gloves, assigned Jung to one of the units.
Some of the inmates call the staff “blue morons”, but Jung noted that they were very friendly and nice, but reminded her that if she broke the quarantine order, she would be imprisoned for a maximum of 6 months and fined about $3,200.
Life in a government quarantine camp
The small room at the camp reminded Jung of her old college room.
The room included two single beds with fluffy mattresses, a firm foam pillow, a duvet, two small tables, a small TV, an electric kettle, a hairdryer, two plastic folding chairs, a fabric wardrobe, a side table, air-conditioning, and a water heater.
Jung was allowed to open her window to receive food and other necessities delivered, or to breathe fresh air.
She was given 3 meals a day, which were placed in plastic bags, which were placed on a tray outside her window for her to take.
Through that same window, employees took nasal and throat swabs as part of their daily COVID-19 testing requirements.
It was possible to connect things by family or friends, but it was not easy.
In order to receive care packages, the deliverer must submit an application containing a complete list and photos of the contents, 24 hours in advance for approval, or they must fill out a form upon arrival.
The introduction of alcohol and cigarettes was prohibited.
On Jung’s last day, health workers came in the morning to check on her.
After the sample was taken, Jung had to wait in the room until the Health Department informed the camp that she had been given permission to be transferred to the hotel she had booked.
Jung then had to wait again until a staff member told her that she could leave her room, check out, and get into her assigned vehicle.
Staff helped her load her luggage into the vehicle that took her to her hotel to undergo an additional 17 days of quarantine.
But overall, despite her eating meals similar to those served on planes, sleeping on an uncomfortable bed, and worrying about one of her daily “Covid-19” tests being positive, her stay in Pines Bay wasn’t as bad as she expected.
Jung stayed there for only 4 days, unlike those who were in close contact with the coronavirus cases, who have to spend 14 days (the previous 21 days) in the camp.
Final Reflections
Such strict measures seemed like a cost-effective way of living in a city free of “Covid-19”, with no local cases of coronavirus infection for nearly 3 months.
But this did not last, when the authorities confirmed the registration of two local infections with the “Omicron” mutant, in late December, related to a Cathay Pacific crew member.
And one of the four crew members in “Cathy Pacific” violated the 3-day home isolation rule imposed on cabin crew returning from foreign flights, which indicates that even with strict “Covid-19” containment policies, a single loophole can lead to an outbreak of the disease, Especially with the rapidly spreading Omicron mutant.
As crazy as it sounds, Jung felt lucky for a variety of reasons.
Just 3 days after its arrival, Hong Kong banned incoming passenger flights from 8 countries for two weeks, including the United States.
Entry into the country was very expensive.
From the cost of her quarantine hotel, the loss of her apartment rent, to her paying excess baggage fees to bring necessary quarantine items, these expenses have skyrocketed.
And it’s not just about money, as Jung pointed out that the time she wasted during the isolation phase, and the damage to her physical, mental, and social life, is incalculable.
Moreover, that cost isn’t going down any time soon, and she’s not sure how many times she can afford it.