I am very worried. ‘ Hong Kong Garbage Man Keeps Waste collection, despite fears of Virus

While much of the world is waiting for homebound from Corona in the lives of all the instant-day dormancy it has never been so much to do, or so dangerous to T, a public sanitation workers in Hong Kong, that uses a start when he allowed speak to the press is missing. Families with work-at-home, are stay-at-home charm generate large piles of government waste. takeaway containers, surgical masks, wipes and all other single-use disposable products in the midst of rampant health crisis accumulate, possibly waste is exposed as hauliers T of infectious waste. “There is so much of it, exasperating,” the 60-year industry veteran, tells TIME. T, the garbage from the same towering, yellow settlement has collected for decades has estimated their workload has more than doubled since the outbreak began. Despite the additional volume and exposure to a deadly pathogen, he says his salary is about $9,000 Hong Kong remains the same ($1,154) per month, or about local minimum wage. “Of course I am very worried when I’m at work,” he says, “but it’s my job, so I had to be done.” T operates two physically demanding shifts a day, six days a week. How many of Hong Kong in the third month of work equipment at home out, he says he can not imagine such a luxury. In Hong Kong, Chinese semi-autonomous enclave, the residents by the end of January they crouched down, a practice initial distrust surrounding the city, the virus has helped worst until now. Once again in mid-March infection has started to peak, the taxes the government bars and karaoke lounges and closed its borders indefinitely, hoping to curb imported cases and those connected entertainment. written with schoolchildren and operators for the near future, gatherers of residential waste such as T are preparing for a prolonged flooding. But T, who can not read says it has not received any instructions about the new crown or trash-including elements can transport other than crown must be manipulation during the pandemic. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine published last month found that the crown can survive on plastic and stainless steel for up to 72 hours and board for up to 24 hours. Other studies have found persistent for more. Hong Kong Center for Health Protection has Brochures consulting in healthcare, public transport drivers, crew and salon employees published on avoiding sick to work. Its general “work” Tips invites employees entitled to clean up garbage and waste, “but did not elaborate on what that might bring. At least two people in the building in which T undergo mandatory home quarantine last month worked after government data. T had no idea and says they do not need to know if the people get sick there. “there’s nothing I can do,” she says. she adds that she did not ask their company dares Easy Living, for an education. “They’re threatening, saying that if you do not do the job, there are many people is the will.” In the midst of the current economic crisis, t says, as the people of his work has already clinging layoffs are in the restaurant business against snake so that the cleaning work. in a telephone conversation with the time, defended an easy life representatives of the company policy and accused each other cleanser with complaints about their level of risk of “a joke.” “Of course we have provided enough protection for the cleanest … including masks available,” says Katherine Cheung, a representative who declined to give his title. “I know other companies have not done enough, but we did everything.” He says Cheung Easy Living has spent “more than one million Hong Kong dollars” for personal protective equipment for their employees under crown. Asked how Easy Living is guaranteed The unit reached and used by sanitation workers, he said that “does not share the company’s policy.” In many countries, including the United States, first, federal guidelines that waste pickers typically personal protective equipment such as gloves and face need. In Hong Kong, the Secretary for the company health food and waste treatment says commissioned to provide uniforms and special protective clothing for their employees, they are required, including masks to replace “the beginning of a work shift at least one time”. But T says that she does not have sufficient protective equipment including masks, gloves or uniforms. Since the outbreak began, his employer was providing a box of 50 masks each month, but not enough to keep the two separate layers covering the daily work. Amid the global shortage of surgical masks, you and pay for their own source. You are not alone. respondents received no training, according charity Oxfam Hong Kong, 80 percent of the cleaner to prevent the spread of the virus. About 30% said that their companies have not supplied with masks, while those who are provided with masks 40%, said they were given less than a day mask. But the population is particularly vulnerable. A large part of the army of city garbage haulers are low-income elderly residents, a public risk of death or severe case of COVID For T-19, the underlying health condition, all the younger, has a job extra physical toll. “The lower back hurts … My legs and my feet hurt,” he says. “Lately it’s pretty bad.” If the pain becomes uncontrollable, it takes over-the-counter pain relievers. Otherwise it is a topical ointment, and then all the work starts again early the next morning. A native of Guangdong province in China, T moved to Hong Kong more than two decades her husband, who had emigrated earlier. He lives with his family in a 400 square foot apartment, not far from the property, where he works. She does not share her concern for them exposed to the virus, of course, if they know that they would finish their say. “If we do not have this income, it would be very difficult,” he says. In addition to their fear of the home is their fear of the virus to carry an elderly relative who has liver disease, and suffering of another relative, the complications of polio. When it comes to work evil in touch with someone, there is scarcely a chance to isolate myself in such close proximity and sharing a bathroom, so that never their uniforms home helps and takes a shower as soon as she returns. T belongs Dry Workers Union, which calls on the government to ensure compensation for front-line staff such as sanitation workers should COVID-19 start. “We ask you to treat COVID-19 as [a] work accident,” says Leung Tsz-yan, Union organizer. T, who also collected the waste during the severe outbreak of acute respiratory syndrome [SARS] that ripped through Hong Kong in 2003, says it is now even more afraid. The overall rate of infection of 19-COVID is by far eclipsed the previous outbreak, I noticed, even if led to the loss of life in Hong Kong less. Even after the pandemic is going to do to keep the same job, even though she says that their children are doing he could not imagine. “As a mother I would be very excited to see this hard work.” At the same time, “I do not know how to do other tasks,” he says. “I always did. I’m used to.” Copyright
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