Owing to the latest development of COVID-19, starting from tomorrow (April 1), Rifle Escort and the Hong Kong Police Band performance for the flag-raising ceremony at Golden Bauhinia Square on the 1st of every month will be temporarily suspended. The flag-raising ceremony will be conducted by five uniformed Police officers and the National Anthem will be played through the PA system instead.

     The Rating and Valuation Department today (March 31) released the preliminary findings of its annual review of production and activities in the local property market.

     The preliminary findings, to be incorporated in the Hong Kong Property Review 2020, cover the major private property categories in terms of completions, take-up and vacancy in 2019 and forecast completions in 2020 and 2021, as well as price and rental data.

     Summaries of the findings can also be downloaded from the department's website at www.rvd.gov.hk.

     Further enquiries can be directed to the department by contacting the Technical Secretary (Information) at 2150 8807.
 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 4pm today (March 30), the CHP is investigating 41 additional confirmed cases of COVID-19, taking the number of cases to 683 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 682 confirmed cases and one probable case).
 
     The newly reported cases announced today involve 21 males and 20 females aged between 11 and 65. Among them, 34 had travel history during the incubation period and 18 are overseas students. The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex.
      
     For information on flights that patients of the confirmed cases have taken, please refer to the following webpage: (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/flights_trains_en.pdf). Passengers who travelled on the same flights and sat within two seats surrounding those patients are urged to call the CHP hotlines 2125 1111 and 2125 1122.
      
     The CHP urged members of the public to maintain an appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible in their daily lives. In particular, they should go out less and avoid social activities such as meal gatherings or other gatherings to reduce the chance of contacting infected persons, who may not present any symptoms, and minimise the risk of outbreak clusters emerging in the community.
      
     In particular, the CHP reminded those who have returned to Hong Kong from overseas or visited overseas before the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) took effect on March 19 that, although they are not subject to the 14-day compulsory quarantine, they should stay home and avoid going out as far as possible for 14 days. They should wear surgical mask, maintain stringent personal hygiene as a measure to protect themselves and their family members. They should seek medical advice as soon as possible if symptoms develop to safeguard the health of themselves, family and friends as well as the general public.
      
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "In view of proliferation of the disease and continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong."
      
     "The CHP also strongly urges the public to maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene, which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. On a personal level, members of the public should wear a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, taking public transport or staying in crowded places. They should also perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes."
      
     "As for household environmental hygiene, members of the public are advised to maintain drainage pipes properly, and regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps); cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use; after using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs."
      
     The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Health Commission of Guangdong Province, relevant health authorities and the Hospital Authority.
      
     The CHP has set up the hotlines (2125 1111 and 2125 1122), which operate from 8am to midnight daily, for public enquiries. As at 4pm today, a total of 71 423 calls were received.
      
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on the COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates.
      
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, members of the public should always maintain good personal and environmental hygiene. They are advised to:
 
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;
• Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• Cover all floor drain outlets when they are not in use;
• After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;
• Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.

     The Government today (March 30) appeals the public to properly maintain social distancing at all times and support the temporary measures implemented by the Government with a view to addressing the current situation of public health emergency and working together to fight the disease.

     With the view of delaying the spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, the Government has put in place the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirement and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G).
 
     Under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirement and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), two directions in relation to operations of catering business and scheduled premises have commenced at 6pm on March 28 for 14 days.
 
     As at 0.00am today, the staff of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) inspected a total of 3 200 catering business premises (among them, more than five establishments are holding karaoke establishment permits) with a total of about 280 reminders (of advisory nature including immediate rectification) offered. The reminders were mainly related to not conducting body temperature screening on customers before entering the catering business premises and buffer between one table and another table not yet in compliance with the requirements. Moreover, some 100 inspections to cooked food and light refreshment hawker stalls, some 1 500 inspections to cooked food and light refreshment market stalls were conducted with a total of about 110 reminders (of advisory nature) were offered. The FEHD has also put in place appropriate arrangement relating to the layout and furniture of the communal seating areas in its public markets such that they are in compliance with the relevant requirements of the directions relating to catering business.
 
     The Police has inspected 22 premises in bar area, and also conducted joint inspection with the FEHD to inspect 19 premises in bar area. No violation of the relevant direction was observed. Meanwhile, the Police handled 278 reports on non-compliance of the relevant directions and gave 55 verbal warnings.
 
     The Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health has inspected 22 premises in bar area. Verbal advice was given to six premises failing to wholly complied with the relevant requirements. 
 
     The staff of the FEHD inspected about 130 scheduled premises under its purview (about 110 places of public entertainment including cinemas and temporary places of public entertainment as well as more than 20 bathhouses). All premises comply with the requirements. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department inspected a total of 49 licensed billboard entertainments, a total of five licensed public bowling alleys and a total of five public skating rinks. Violation of the relevant requirements was not found.
 
     The Home Affairs Department staff also inspected 295 clubhouses and 100 amusement games centres without observing any violation. Moreover, the Lands Department carried out an inspection at an industrial building, but the unit concerned was not found contravening the Regulation in the operation. 
 
     In addition, in accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G), the Government prohibits group gatherings with more than four people in public places with effect from 0.00am yesterday (March 29) for 14 days.
 
     Since implementation of the Regulation, the Police has stepped up patrols in various districts to remind the public to comply with the requirements of the Regulation by verbal explanation, advice or warning. As at 0.00am today, the Police handled 188 reports on non-compliance of the relevant directions and gave 24 warnings.
 
     The Government strongly urges members of the public to be self-disciplined and abide by the law. For the sake of themselves as well as other people, they should go out less, avoid social activities such as meal gatherings or other gatherings as well as properly maintain social distancing as far as possible, with an aim to cutting the virus transmission chain.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     From March 20 to 9pm today (March 30), 667 and 166 people have been referred to the test centres at the AsiaWorld-Expo and North Lantau Hospital respectively for COVID-19 viral test. So far, 738 people have negative test results for COVID-19 and have returned to their residence to continue the home quarantine.
 
     Preliminary positive test results will be further confirmed by the Department of Health and announced as confirmed cases in due course.