Doctor: 'Convalescing power' should be maximized

Leung Chi-chiu supports the proposal to relocate young patients with minor health conditions and no obvious symptoms to quarantine centers or allow them to be quarantined at home to ease the pressure on the public healthcare system.

That will also vacate hospital beds and provide beds to patients in greater need, he noted. Holiday villages are suitable venues because they are far from urban areas and easier to supervise.

"Patients who are young and are convalescing need not stay in hospitals because what they need is quarantines but not medical treatment," he told China Daily.

"I estimate among the 600-plus confirmed patients, a considerable number of young patients do not have apparent symptoms. It is more cost-effective to discharge them from hospitals to relieve a great deal of work being done by healthcare workers and also to vacate more hospital beds. They may be discharged if they test negative twice in one week."

He explained that when a COVID-19 patient is hospitalized, healthcare employees need to do a lot of preparation work; they also need time to put on full protective gear. A lot of work is then required in taking off the protective gear and disinfecting.

Leung said the government and the Hospital Authority support this idea and are making preparations for it. Like everywhere else, it is impossible in Hong Kong to provide endless resources to hospitals.

"Since these people are young and can recover quickly, they may be asked to donate blood for the purpose of making a serum to help cure other patients. They know they have antibodies themselves and are immune from the coronavirus,'' he explained.

"We need to make the most of our 'convalescing power'. And as students have just returned to Hong Kong recently, they have a lot of free time and may be interested in finding jobs,'' advised Leung.

"With experience in being quarantined, they may be hired as administrators at quarantine centers to handle day-to-day management, supplies and logistics. This is better than sending other employees who have not been infected to work in quarantine centers," he added.