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STAY MASKED

hen Hong Kong people February. Ironically, the mask which even conduct interviews online. It
join the many anti-extra- was banned by the government with is an unprecedented news produc-
Wdition bill protests, they a new legislation months ago is now tion experience to all of us, but our
wear masks. The habit of wearing a daily necessity which helps com- pursuit of news quality remains
masks continues, as Hong Kong is bat the highly infectious virus. unchanged. Reporters, editors and
battling against COVID-19 outbreak As COVID-19 has been raised to instructors who are thousands of
which first started in Wuhan, China the top of the global agenda, Varsity miles apart, are all staying on the
in winter 2019. The pandemic has decided to launch a special section job, taking responsibilities, working
so far affected more than 1.3 mil- in this issue to cover stories about hard for good content and producing
lion people worldwide and killed the pandemic. In this section, our meaningful stories.
over 70,000. The latest pandemic re- reporters investigate how patients Impacts of the pandemic to glob-
minds Hong Kong people of the hor- with chronic disease in Wuhan al economy and politics is beyond
rible SARS outbreak in 2003 during struggled to seek for medical treat- our imagination. This is a long and
which mask played a crucial role in ments which are vital for their sur- harsh winter for everyone in the
fighting against the deadly virus. vival during the city lockdown. Our world. Hopefully, spring will come
The Chinese government is criti- reporters also speak to university soon.
cised for not being open about the students to find out what they think
spread at its onset. The same accusa- about Zoom online classes when
tion was made against the Mainland physical classes are suspended dur-
authorities back in 2003. The lack of ing the pandemic.
transparency and information about Periscope examines the impact of
the virus is blamed for causing the the anti-extradition bill movement.
pandemic that plagues the globe. Varsity looks at how Hong Kong
On January 23, Hong Kong con- people are affected physically, men-
firmed its first two COVID-19 cases. tally and socially.
The number of cases reached 914 on The pandemic indeed has
April 7. Online teaching was intro- brought tough challenges to news
duced to all kindergartens, primary reporting which heavily relies on
schools, secondary schools and uni- face-to-face communication. Varsity Jasper Cao
versities in late January and early members have to discuss work and Managing Editor

Varsity Magazine, Issue 156, May 2020
Editorial Office School of Journalism and Communication, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, N. T., Hong Kong.
Contacts Telephone: 3943 7680 Fax: 2603 5007 Email: varsity@cuhk.edu.hk
Printer Regal Printing Limited, 11/F, Wyler Centre Phase 2, 192-200 Tai Lin Pai Road, Kwai Chung, N. T., Hong Kong