香港のコロナ病棟で乳幼児を「身体拘束」　保健当局は擁護

【香港ＡＦＰ＝時事】香港の病院で、新型コロナウイルスに感染した乳幼児を動き回らないようベッドに縛り付ける「身体拘束」が行われていることが明らかになった。子どもたちを家族から引き離す対応にも批判が高まっている。保健当局は17日夜、「患者の安全と健康を守るため」の措置だと対応を擁護した。（写真は資料写真）
　香港は、新型コロナ対策として世界でも特に厳格な隔離措置を導入しており、人口密度が高いわりに感染者数は累計で約１万１０００人、死者は約２００人にとどまっている。
　検査で陽性になると、症状の有無にかかわらず直ちに隔離病棟に収容される。濃厚接触者も、行政が運営する隔離施設に送られる。香港市外から新たに到着した人は全員、３週間の隔離期間を専用のホテルで過ごさなければならない。
　こうした対策の効果で感染者数は減少し、昨年は不満の声もほとんど聞かれなかった。
　だが、最近になり、裕福で政界ともつながりのあるホワイトカラー住民や外国人が多く住む地区で感染が拡大。隔離病棟や隔離施設に収容された家族から、批判の声が上がり始めた。
　ソーシャルメディアには、子どもたちが親と引き離された、赤ちゃんに母乳を与えるのを禁じられた、乳児が動き回らないようベッドに縛り付けられたなどの証言が相次いで投稿されている。
　これらの訴えを受け、保健当局は今週、一連の対応を擁護する声明を矢継ぎ早に発した。
　市内の全病院を管轄する医院管理局（ＨＡ）は１７日夜、「一般的に病院では、小児患者の安全と健康を守るためにのみ身体拘束の適用を検討する」と発表。「親または保護者から事前に適切な形で同意を得る」と付け加えた。また、親が陰性と診断された場合も、隔離病棟に余裕があれば陽性の子どもへの付き添いを認めるとした。
　香港の厳格な隔離措置をめぐっては、親子を引き離す対応が子どものいる家庭に影響を及ぼしているとして、英、米、スイスの在香港領事館が相次いで懸念を表明していた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/03/19-18:13）

Hong Kong health authorities have defended the practice of physically restraining some babies and children to beds in coronavirus isolation wards after criticism built over the treatment of families under the city's strict anti-virus measures.
Despite being one of the most densely packed cities in the world, Hong Kong has kept infections low thanks to some of the most stringent quarantine measures in the world, recording some 11,000 infections and 200 deaths since the pandemic began.
Anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus is immediately taken to isolation wards -- regardless of whether they are symptomatic or not -- and those deemed close contacts are sent to mandatory government quarantine camps.
Almost all arrivals into the city must also quarantine in dedicated hotels for three weeks.
The measures have helped curb infections and have been in place for much of the past year, largely without complaint.
But there has been growing pushback in recent weeks after an outbreak hit neighbourhoods favoured by wealthier -- and more politically connected -- white-collar locals and foreigners.
Social media groups have since filled with comments by families taken to isolation wards or mandatory quarantine camps.
Their complaints include allegations that some parents have been separated from their children, ordered not to breastfeed babies and that some infants have even been tied to beds to stop them moving around.
The allegations have led to a series of statements this week from health authorities defending their policies, including over the use of restraints.
Generally speaking, the hospital will only consider the application of physical restraint on paediatric patients for the safety and well-being of the patient, the Hospital Authority said in a statement late Wednesday.
Appropriate and prior consent will be sought from the parents or guardians, it added.
The Hospital Authority added parents who test negative would usually be allowed to accompany infected children on isolation wards if there is space.
In recent days, the consulates of Switzerland, Britain and the United States have all expressed concerns over how Hong Kong's tough anti-virus measures were impacting families, including concerns that parents had about being separated from children.
The US consulate temporarily closed earlier this week after two staff members tested positive and were sent to an isolation ward.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam confirmed special permission had been granted to allow their children to join them instead of being sent into quarantine.
Hong Kong's treatment of mothers during the pandemic has previously come under scrutiny.
Last year, a group of expecting parents fought an ultimately successful campaign to allow birth partners into the delivery room after they were banned during a spike in coronavirus cases.
World Health Organization guidelines recommend birth partners be present, even during the pandemic, and that infected mothers continue breastfeeding their babies.
While authorities relented on birth partners, Hong Kong continues to tell mothers not to breastfeed on isolation wards.
Authorities have also defended the use of mandatory quarantine camps arguing most of Hong Kong's notoriously cramped apartments are too small for families to self-isolate safely.