同路人語605- 努力保護每一個人 Do the best to protect everyone

經過兩個多月，新冠狀病毒不管是實驗室制造出來，或是經由自然演變而產生，看來已變成全世界人類要長期面對的問題。現時中國給全世界的報告是疫情已開始受控，中國社會也正在走向恢復正常運作。不過情況是否如是？全世界是否願意相信？又或是中國社會是否能真的能在停頓後重新啟動，看來還需要一段時間才能知曉。

                不過從病毒已在韓國、日本、意大利、伊朗等國家開始了社區爆發，世衛組織已明白表示疫症已接近變成全球大流行。澳洲政府亦表示雖然澳洲仍努力通過對來自疫區的旅客進行隔離去圍堵及阻止病毒擴散，不過澳洲人要有心理準備，一朝這防線守不住的話，我們要準備有一段日子要處在與病毒共同生活。

                要是這樣的日子來到，澳洲社會的安全、物資供應、工作、日常生活及國民健康，都會受到極大壓力。不過要是這一天真的來到，地球上恐怕也沒有一個比澳洲更好及安全的地方吧。澳洲政府對流行疫症來到，訂有應變計劃，國民要去瞭解、明白及遵守，才能一起度過難關。

                在疫情將臨時，每一個人都力求自保，這是無可厚非的事。不過若每一個人都自顧自己，沒有同舟共濟的心，把有限的資源都全搶過來給自己，或是不遵守令大家都安全的守則，可以預計的是整個社會都會受到傷害。舉一個例來說，每一個人在這時期都應該嚴格遵守更高的衛生守則，令到自己不會成為病毒的播放社，就可降低身邊的人受到感染的機會。17年前香港發生的沙士疫症，就是在整個社會同心協力提高個人衛生，慢慢令到病毒消失。

                曾經到過疫區的人而未有病徵的人，更要為著他人的好處，自我隔離，降低在自己不知情下把病毒傳給別人的可能性。只要人人不掉以輕心，嚴格執行在公眾地方把病毒消滅的措施，並且減少與人接觸的機會，我們是有能力把進入了澳洲的病毒，消滅在社區之中。

                要記得，每一個人都是神所創造，生命都是來自神。我們有責任保護自己，也同樣也要保護我們身邊的每一個人。

周偉文 社長

Do the best to protect everyone

With the COVID-19 on for two months, seemingly it is going to stay around us, irrespective of it was from an artificial or natural origin. The latest assessment from China was positive as communities there start to resume normal. Nobody knows how reliable is this and there is uncertainty on how long will it take China to resume normal after the shutdown.

But as when outbreaks happen in Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran, the WHO has declared a global epidemic. Even the Australian government has warned the public in case our health control management on the virus fails then we will be fighting with the disease hard soon.

If this really happens, we will need to tackle issues of social order and national health, daily supplies and living. By then, I would envisage not elsewhere could be better off on the planet earth. The public must be prepared to understand and follow all epidemic control measures to be introduced by the government in combating such a situation.

                When epidemic hits, everyone for sure will put up own defence. But if everyone just cares about own self and neglect others such as holding up all safety resources or not abiding public safety rules then the whole society is to suffer. Hence during such a critical timing, we must exercise strict hygiene guidelines in order not to become a virus carrier to people around us. The SARS occurred 17 years ago indeed died down eventually as when the whole society was in high hygiene alert.

                In the interest of the whole community, people who have been to high risk areas must guarantee themselves even in the absence of any sign of symptom. If everyone of us takes public hygiene serious enough and tries to minimize crowd gathering, we should be able to suppress COVID-19 coming on board in our communities.

                Remember God create mankind and we must live well to protect ourselves and to protect people around us.

Raymond Chow, Publisher