The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (March 6) said that the following two offices will be temporarily closed until further notice due to the occurrences of rapid antigen test positive cases for COVID-19 among their staff members:
 

     A thorough cleaning and disinfection has been arranged at the premises concerned. For enquiries, members of the public may call the following service units during office hours:

(1) Quarry Bay Integrated Family Service Centre (Tel: 2562 4783); and
(2) Chai Wan Social Security Field Unit (Tel: 2557 7868).

     During the pandemic, the SWD has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of people entering the office and providing masks and other personal protective equipment for staff. Staff members are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.

     To contain the spread of virus in the community against rapid upsurge of COVID-19 cases, the Fire Services Department (FSD) has launched a new mechanism for admission to community isolation facilities as soon as possible via email, WhatsApp hotline and WeChat accounts.
 
     Applicants must be tested positive for COVID-19 who are with mild symptoms and self-care ability via the following testing methods:
 (1) nucleic acid test;
 (2) deep throat saliva test; or
 (3) rapid antigen test.
 
     Priority arrangements would be based on the occupancy of the isolation facilities, the applicant's living environment, medical condition or other factors. Upon receipt of the messages, the FSD will issue further instructions to the infected patients.

Contact methods:
1. Email: fsd_cif@hkfsd.gov.hk
2. WhatsApp: 5233 1833 (click the link below to send a message to HKFSD: https://wa.me/message/IGMQN56VPJVEF1)
3. WeChat account: fsd_cif
 
     To facilitate the arrangement to the community isolation facility as soon as possible, please provide the following information:
     
Name (Chinese and English):
Age:
Gender:
ID number (e.g. A1234xxx):
Telephone number:
Residential address:
Testing method:
Date of positive test result:

     â€‹The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 6) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, March 6, the CHP was investigating 10 785 additional confirmed cases, 4 721 additional asymptomatic cases and 15 502 cases with pending case status in the past 24 hours (i.e. there were 31 008 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in those 24 hours). Hong Kong has recorded a total of 471 617 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.
     
     The newly reported cases consist of two imported cases and 31 006 locally acquired cases. The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations on the cases.

     As at 4pm today, a total of 392 718 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus had been reported in the past 14 days (February 20 to March 5), including 392 611 locally acquired cases and 107 imported cases. A list of buildings related to the cases is available at the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (March 5), the total number of confirmed cases was 195 594, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases, pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 92 339, 10 and 152 666 respectively.

     People with positive or preliminary positive COVID-19 nucleic acid test results will receive an SMS notification about the result, together with a request to fill in an electronic form (www.chp.gov.hk/cdpi) to submit information, including those on family members living in the same household. This is to facilitate the work of the CHP such as epidemiological investigation and arrangement of hospital admission, isolation and quarantine. People who receive the relevant SMS should check the personal information and information on testing in the SMS carefully and fill in the electronic form as soon as possible to provide accurate and complete information.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that the local situation of COVID-19 infection became severe recently and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility. With the higher transmissibility and risk of infection of the Omicron mutant strain, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with the social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings (particularly religious or cross-family activities and gatherings). This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     The spokesman reminded that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who are yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected. Meanwhile, a person who gets COVID-19 and influenza at the same time may be more seriously ill and would have a higher risk of death. Influenza vaccination may reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation and the length of stay. In addition, seasonal influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months or above except those with known contraindications. Persons at higher risk of getting influenza and its complications, including the elderly and children, should receive seasonal influenza vaccination early. Please see details of the vaccination schemes on the CHP's website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/17980.html).

     The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau said today (March 6) that the task force of ensuring medical supplies has been working closely with its Mainland counterparts and various kinds of medical supplies are arriving in Hong Kong in batches.

     The task force has so far received more than 23 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits. Except those reserved for the Compulsory Universal Testing (CUT), more than 12 million RAT kits have been distributed through relevant departments and the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link (the Link) to members of the public in various districts, specified high-risk and target groups.

     More than 410 000 pulse oximeters so far received by the task force have all been distributed to the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority (HA) for patient use.

     Also, the task force has received over 45 million N95 masks, KN95 masks, and surgical masks. Apart from reserving the masks for public use during the CUT for enhancing protection, about 1.1 million of them have been delivered to frontline staff of the DH and the disciplined services. The task force is also receiving various personal protective equipment, including 20 000 isolation gowns, 90 000 goggles, 240 000 face shields, 65 000 pairs of shoe covers and over 1.9 million pairs of surgical/examination gloves, which will be distributed to frontline staff through various government departments according to their needs.

     The task force is receiving a total of 450 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines, including the batch arriving in Hong Kong progressively. Among them, 170 000 boxes have been given to the Link and other local organisations for distribution to the community. Meanwhile, some of the proprietary Chinese medicines are being given to residents subject to "restriction-testing declarations" via the Food and Health Bureau.

     The remaining proprietary Chinese medicines are being distributed through relevant departments to those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics under the HA and people who had tested positive at isolation facilities, allowing citizens in need to obtain these proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government as soon as possible, in order to fight the virus together.

     The task force will continue to co-ordinate with various government departments and agencies on the medical supplies needed to ensure that resources can be expeditiously supplied to Hong Kong to cope with the epidemic.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     To cope with the rapid and huge increase in number of confirmed patients, which has overwhelmed the capacity of public hospitals and the community treatment and isolation facilities, the Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (March 6) that it will activate three more designated clinics for confirmed cases of COVID-19 tomorrow (March 7) to help provide diagnosis and treatment for the people with positive test results, and those people who are presenting with relatively mild symptoms of infection (e.g., fever, cough, sore throat) requiring medical advice while awaiting admission to hospitals or isolation facilities.

     "The HA had activated fourteen designated clinics earlier for confirmed cases of COVID-19. As at 5pm on March 5, the designated clinics have provided over 25 000 attendances. The three newly activated designated clinics are East Kowloon General Out-patient Clinic, Mrs Wu York Yu General Out-patient Clinic and Tai Po Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic, adding up a total of 17 designated clinics," the HA spokesperson said.

     In order to implement appropriate infection control arrangements, people seeking consultation must make appointments by telephone to avoid people queuing at the clinics. The healthcare staff of the designated clinics will provide appropriate treatment according to the patient's clinical condition, and will transfer the patient to the hospitals for further treatment if required.

     The designated clinics are open from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays, from 9am to 1pm, and 2pm to 5pm. Eligible patients should call the selected designated clinic to make an appointment, and will be provided the earliest appointment timeslot in the next 24 hours.

     Normal general out-patient services at the designated clinics, including the related evening, Sunday and public holidays service, will be suspended starting from tomorrow. In addition, in order to focus manpower and resources to support the services of the designated clinics, some other General Out-patient Clinics will also temporarily suspend services from tomorrow onwards. Episodic patients who have an appointment made via telephone booking or mobile application "HA GO" are advised to seek consultation at other General Out-patient Clinics or at private clinics. Chronic patients with follow-up appointments at the clinics are advised to refill their drugs at the designated Medication Refill Clinics in the district on the appointment day by presenting their appointment slips and identity cards. For the list of Designated Clinics for COVID-19 Confirmed Cases and the corresponding medication refill clinics, see Annex 1; for the list of General Out-patient Clinics with temporary services suspension and the corresponding Medication Refill Clinics, see Annex 2.

     COVID-19 vaccination service will also be suspended. Government will send text messages to citizens who have made appointments for COVID-19 vaccination at the related designated clinics and advise them to go to other community vaccination centres for vaccination service.

     The distribution of deep throat saliva specimen collection packs and collection service of specimens at the three designated clinics will also be suspended. Citizens are advised to go to other selected General Out-patient Clinics or service points designated by the Government at specified time for obtaining the specimen collection packs or submitting the specimens. Details on the specimen collection packs distribution points and specimen collection points are available at the following website: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html.

     The HA will closely monitor the service needs and operation of the designated clinics to dovetail with the latest development of the epidemic. The HA once again thanks the public for their patience and for being accommodating in complying with the arrangements so that the isolation facilities in public hospitals can accord priority to the confirmed elderly, young patients and patients with special medical needs. With the gradual increase in community treatment and isolation facilities, the remaining confirmed patients will be admitted in an orderly manner.