Hong Kong: Yuen, 67, is still worried despite wearing two masks, using extra soap and liquid detergent, while collecting rubbish amid pneumonia.

Yuen, a sanitation worker, wears a mask all day during the 7-to-17-hour shift at a garbage collection site in southern Hong Kong. He said the company requires all employees to wear masks when working since the outbreak of coronary pneumonia.

The company still has enough medical masks to provide to its employees, but he worries that the number of masks will soon run out when the item in the special zone is in shortage. To better prevent disease, he added soap and detergent, which he had accumulated over the years, and shared with his colleagues.

"If I say I'm not worried, it's a lie," he said. "But we know where to ask for more? Sanitary workers are considered people at the bottom of society."

Outbreaks of acute pneumonia caused by the new strain of corona virus (nCoV) have killed 362 people and infected more than 17,000, of which Hong Kong recorded 15 cases. While schools in Hong Kong are closed, office workers are encouraged to work from home, 11,900 special-zone sanitation workers continue their daily waste collection work and become one of the groups. most vulnerable.

Despite being exposed to all sorts of waste everyday, most of them are not equipped with appropriate protective equipment. Leung Tsz-yan, a representative of the Hong Kong Federation of Sanitation Workers, said that what workers like Yuen face are dangerous in the current context.

"Unlike non-emergency services that can be paused for a short period of time, cleaning services cannot be stopped because of the corona virus outbreak. Sanitary workers working at the front lines of the fight against pandemic ", said Leung.

She said most sanitation workers are concerned about the lack of masks. Each person should be provided at least two a day. In addition to medical masks, Leung said other protective equipment, including high-quality masks, gloves, glasses and protective clothing, should also be provided.

Barry Yu, 64, another cleaning worker, did not wear a mask when working at night from 17:30 to 23:30 in Causeway Bay, because the company did not provide masks or other protective equipment. Mr. Yu, who has been doing this job for over 10 years, believes the situation is not urgent yet and his workplace is very airy. However, he washed his hands after picking up trash on trucks and cleaning the bins more often.

"More than a decade of work has taught me how to stay as clean as possible," he said. "I still follow the news and if the situation worsens, I believe the government and the company will take steps."

A number of companies in this industry also strengthen precautions for employees. A sanitation worker surnamed Lai said her company provides medical masks, gloves for employees and daily body temperature checks. According to Lai, the company has issued guidelines for employees, including regular masks changes, which are granted three times a day.

Leaders of the Federation of Sanitation Workers say many workers do not wear masks because they feel uncomfortable or wear them the wrong way. The government and the responsible companies must instruct them to use the protective equipment correctly.

Congressman Jonathan Ho Kai-ming said that sanitation workers, along with a number of other occupations, are at higher risk of coronavirus infection and should be given priority to provide masks and related protective equipment.

The Food and Sanitation Authority of Hong Kong last week rejected rumors that it had provided expired masks to sanitation workers. A spokesman for the agency said it would provide adequate and appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks, to workers.