Doctors behind the 430 press briefing
One of the most visible aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong is the ‘430 Press Briefing’, where HA spokespersons field flurries of reporters’ questions about the battle against the epidemic. The doctors who attended the press conference – (from left of the photo above) Dr Linda Yu, Dr Lau Ka-hin, and Dr Sara Ho – are not infection control experts and have to prepare by keeping up to speed with the latest news, attending Central Command Committee meetings, and seeking advice from subject officers.
Linda and Sara reveal that Ka-hin likes to guess what reporters’ questions will be before they are asked. Ka-hin laughs and replies that he always guesses correctly. He studies past interviews of others for their content and flow to perfect his approach.
Linda says she puts herself in other people’s shoes. For instance, concern was raised about avascular necrosis when a patient being prescribed with steroids, she sought the relevant information from a subject officer in advance to ease public concern.
Sara is an A&E specialist and says she has a tendency to speak quickly. The press conferences have taught her how to speak slowly so that the audience can digest what she is saying, particularly when she is nervous.
During the peak of outbreak, they had to attend press conference 7 days a week, they were always well prepared, and even had debriefing sessions on how to better deliver their important messages when they returned to work after press conference.
Linda and Sara reveal that Ka-hin likes to guess what reporters’ questions will be before they are asked. Ka-hin laughs and replies that he always guesses correctly. He studies past interviews of others for their content and flow to perfect his approach.
Linda says she puts herself in other people’s shoes. For instance, concern was raised about avascular necrosis when a patient being prescribed with steroids, she sought the relevant information from a subject officer in advance to ease public concern.
Sara is an A&E specialist and says she has a tendency to speak quickly. The press conferences have taught her how to speak slowly so that the audience can digest what she is saying, particularly when she is nervous.
During the peak of outbreak, they had to attend press conference 7 days a week, they were always well prepared, and even had debriefing sessions on how to better deliver their important messages when they returned to work after press conference.
Ways to destress
Their hobbies are just like us. To relieve the pressure of the press conferences and their own duties, Ka-hin goes running which gives his brain a welcome break by keeping him away from his mobile phone for the duration of his exercise.
Linda unwinds by playing electronic games as she has done from a young age. She plays with her children as well. Her favourites are Tomb Raider and RPG games, and she also plays RingFit for an hour to unwind after attending press conference.
Sara, meanwhile, relieves the pressure by walking the pet Labrador she adopted during the epidemic. She says her family spoils him and walks him in the local park twice a day.
Linda unwinds by playing electronic games as she has done from a young age. She plays with her children as well. Her favourites are Tomb Raider and RPG games, and she also plays RingFit for an hour to unwind after attending press conference.
Sara, meanwhile, relieves the pressure by walking the pet Labrador she adopted during the epidemic. She says her family spoils him and walks him in the local park twice a day.
The epidemic has brought other unexpected surprises for the doctors. Linda’s maid returned home because of the outbreak, leaving Linda to cook for her family. She learned how to make salt baked chicken and baked lobster by watching YouTube videos.
Ka-hin meanwhile goes cycling once a week with secondary school friends to Yuen Long, Sheung Shui, and the cycle track connecting Ma On Shan and Tuen Mun. He says he enjoys the beautiful rural scenery and the delicious food they eat on the way.
