The largest dedicated location for those caught up in Hong Kong’s effort to clamp down on the spread of Covid-19 has proved a source of controversy.
The Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre – a 3,500-room compound that the government first opened on Lantau Island, the city’s largest outlying island, in July 2020 – sees dozens of residents suspected of being close contacts with Covid-19 carriers enter every day.
Some liken Penny’s Bay to a prison, with surveillance cameras installed outside every room, as well as loudspeakers that instantly spit out warnings for those who set foot outside, or even open the door.
Parents have also complained about the facility’s lack of suitability for young children compared to the hotels others are sent to for quarantine, warning about a shortage of sleeping cots and the absence of refrigerators in the rooms to store fresh food.
Some who have emerged from their two weeks in the facility have provided the Post with a sort of “Penny’s Bay Survival Guide”, complete with 10 key quarantine hacks to ensure that you too can come out with your sanity intact.
Tip 1: bring a power outlet strip. There aren’t many outlets in the room, and the last thing you want – even temporarily – is that moment of sinking despair that hits your gut like a goods train when one of your electronic devices suddenly snaps black.
Tip 2: don’t bring clothes. As in, bring the absolute minimum your conscience can bear. In those two weeks, nothing will compare to the freedom of not wearing a shirt or pants for four days straight.
Tip 3: fill that extra luggage space with as much packaged food as physically possible. You will be served three meals a day, but these will prove underwhelming in both portion size and nutritional value.
Feeling peckish, you may want to take advantage of the on-demand snack delivery services, only to find that this takes some time and is mostly limited to Oreos and a cup of noodles. The ambitious should bring an electric hob and two weeks’ worth of tinned meats. Otherwise, devote an entire bag to your most cherished, perishable snacks; any and all health concerns can be postponed.
Tip 4: all remaining space should then be devoted, naturally, to condiments. The meal selection – spaghetti, sweet and sour pork – is rather bland; excessive amounts of chilli sauce are one popular solution to this, but to each their own. The exception is the Indian meals, which one Penny’s Bay survivor described as their “top quarantine hack”. Putting in a few orders should be a top priority upon entering, as the meals require two days of preparation time.
Tip 5: bring a lamp or some candles. The incessant, piercing hum of the fluorescent lights will prove a little too morgue-ish, and most will long for that sense of warm homeliness offered by a flickering flame. Likewise, bring a pillow, towel and full bedding set. These are all provided, but a certain ease of mind comes from using one’s own. Basic toiletries, including a toothbrush, toothpaste and toilet paper, are also provided.
Tip 6: bring an old phone or some other tool able to serve as a dedicated Wi-fi hotspot: THERE IS NO WI-FI PROVIDED. China Mobile coverage will prove quite porous, while that of 3 and SmarTone is better. Don’t forget to buy a SIM card with ample data space; those provided only have 2GB worth, and swapping out for a fresh one will take a long few hours.
Tip 7: there is a television with an HDMI port, so bring a gaming console or cable to plug in your laptop and watch films like a king or queen. True thrill seekers may want to bring a whole projector. One younger resident did so, making him – in the words of one Post reader – “a genius”.
Tip 8: Penny’s Bay is strictly BYOB. Do not hold back, as you cannot top up once your glass runs empty. Please note, though, that the Department of Health does not encourage the consumption of alcoholic beverages in quarantine centres, and Civil Aid Service staff on site will advise those confined to the Penny’s Bay centre not to consume any.
Tip 9: don’t pack light; there is simply no upside. Bring things that you will find a relaxing respite amid the stream of seemingly endless hours, such as a guitar or sewing kit. For fitness lovers, bring a yoga mat or some gym equipment; some Penny’s Bay residents even went completely galaxy brain and brought a treadmill.
Tip 10: bring a good attitude. Two weeks is indeed quite a long time, but positive vibes – on top of following this guide to a tee – should ensure it goes by quickly.
Hell, you may even find some of it to be a little fun.