School of Design, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong.
University of Manchester, SEED, Manchester, UK.
J Urban Health. 2023 Aug;100(4):852-859. doi: 10.1007/s11524-023-00760-9. Epub 2023 Aug 9.
This article critically examines the experience of Hong Kong (HK) with the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the urgent need for effective public health responses in an aging society. As one of the world's fastest aging societies, Hong Kong's vulnerability to the consequences of pandemics is particularly pronounced due to low birth rates and high life expectancies. The city has experienced multiple waves of the COVID-19 virus, with the fifth wave causing some of the highest mortality rates in the world. However, through continuous learning and adaptation, HK's public health response has evolved to combat the crisis effectively. The discussion aims to highlight the importance of drawing from both positive and negative lessons from past epidemics and the critical role of public health systems in ensuring the well-being of older adults and the wider community. It emphasizes the need for sustained efforts to maintain and strengthen public health systems to tackle the ongoing and future public health challenges in an aging society.
本文批判性地审视了香港（HK）在 COVID-19 大流行期间的经历，并强调了在老龄化社会中需要采取有效的公共卫生应对措施。作为世界上老龄化最快的社会之一，由于低出生率和高预期寿命，香港特别容易受到大流行后果的影响。该市经历了多波 COVID-19 病毒，第五波导致全球死亡率最高。然而，通过不断学习和适应，香港的公共卫生应对措施已经发展到能够有效地应对危机。讨论旨在强调从过去的流行病中吸取积极和消极教训的重要性，以及公共卫生系统在确保老年人和更广泛社区福祉方面的关键作用。它强调需要持续努力维护和加强公共卫生系统，以应对老龄化社会中当前和未来的公共卫生挑战。
