Silver lining

The pandemic has also brought people closer. In times of crisis, many have offered a helping hand to those at risk, providing anti-pandemic equipment in the battle against the virus.

The fifth wave has caught numerous businesses, especially homes for the elderly, off guard, leaving them short of anti-pandemic items such as face masks, rapid antigen testing kits, oximeters and disinfectant.

Tseung, the Pleasure Lodge chief financial officer, said giving rapid antigen tests to every resident and staff member at nursing homes is becoming the new norm during the fifth wave.

The central and Hong Kong governments have donated thousands of anti-pandemic items to homes for the elderly, including proprietary Chinese medicines known to be effective in treating COVID-19.

However, Fong, the Pleasure Lodge CEO, said that by March 18, N95 face masks and protective gowns ordered in February had not arrived and the home only had enough such supplies for about one week. It later received a fresh batch of supplies donated by local "good Samaritans".

"Although we do not have sufficient gear to deal with the pandemic in the long term, I am confident that the situation will ease with the central government's support and help from all around," Fong added.

"We need to stand in solidarity in the face of the pandemic."