The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (December 13), five COVID-19 confirmed patients (case numbers: 12418, 12448, 12455, 12458 and 12494) were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours and will continue with the 14-day post-discharge isolation. So far, a total of 12173 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.

     A total of 67 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and the Hospital Authority (HA) Infectious Disease Centre. Among those patients, one is in serious condition (case number: 12431) while the remaining are in stable condition.

     The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     â€‹The Hong Kong Heritage Museum (HKHM) will hold the exhibition for the "Still & Motion – Hong Kong International Poster Triennial 2021" competition from December 15. The exhibition will feature 116 entries to the competition from around the world as well as posters designed by four internationally renowned designers who were the competition panel judges, presenting the diverse culture and creativity of graphic designers around the world in still and motion.

     The HKHM and the Hong Kong Designers Association have jointly organised the Hong Kong International Poster Triennial (HKIPT) since 2001. Through competitions, exhibitions and symposiums, the event documents and promotes the development of contemporary international poster design. In addition to calling for printed posters from three categories – "Ideology", "Promotion of Cultural Events" and "Commercial and Advertising" – this is the first year the HKIPT invited designers to submit digital posters with motion features for the "Animated Poster" category. A total of 2 299 entries were submitted from over 50 countries/regions to the competition.

     The professional judging panel, which included four internationally renowned designers, namely Mr Bi Xuefeng from Mainland China, Mr Erich Brechbühl from Switzerland, Mr Yukimasa Okumura from Japan and Ms Lisa Pommerenke from Germany, selected 16 distinctive award-winning posters and 100 entries for the exhibition. Also on display are posters created by the judges. The posters featured will become part of the collection of the HKHM.

     Addressing the opening ceremony today (December 13), the Assistant Director (Heritage and Museums) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Miss Eve Tam, said, "Today technological advances have enabled poster designers to create motion graphics to convey ideas in an innovative and dynamic way. To keep abreast of this new trend, we have added the 'Animated Poster' category this year to recognise the achievement of designers who enliven their works with animations. With the augmented reality (AR) app on our smartphone, we can visualise how these animated posters are brought to life by technology and talented minds." Other officiating guests today included the Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Designers Association, Mr Tryde Leung; the Chairman of the Art Sub-committee of the Museum Advisory Committee, Mr Vincent Lo; and the Museum Director of the HKHM, Ms Fione Lo.

     The exhibition will run from December 15 until February 28 next year at the HKHM (1 Man Lam Road, Sha Tin). For details of the exhibition and admission arrangements, please visit
hk.heritage.museum/en_US/web/hm/exhibitions/data/exid271.html, or call 2180 8188 for enquiries.

     All persons are required to use the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter offices and venues under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), except for exempted persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above and those with disabilities that render use of the app difficult. Exemptions will also be granted to individual persons depending on the actual circumstances. All exempted persons are required to complete a record form to register their personal particulars and the date and time of their visit. As it will take time to verify personal particulars of exempted persons under the arrangement, their waiting time for using public services or entering the relevant venues may be lengthened. The LCSD suggests that members of the public arrive early, and appeals for their understanding. The department also encourages the exempted persons to use the app as far as possible to save time.

                  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, December 13, the CHP was investigating two additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 491 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 490 confirmed cases and one probable case).

     The newly reported cases are imported cases. One of the cases involved mutant strain while the mutation test result of the remaining case is pending. The patients comprise two males aged 50 and 75 respectively. One of them arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk) with enhanced surveillance and the other one arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk). Both of them tested positive during quarantine.

     A total of 61 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (November 29 to December 12) and all of them are imported cases.

     Meanwhile, the CHP provided an update on the latest investigations on two imported cases announced yesterday (cases 12490 and 12491), involving a 62-year-old male patient and a 50-year-old female patient respectively who arrived in Hong Kong together from the United Kingdom by flight CX252 on December 10 and tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport. Case 12490 had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) in Hong Kong on July 1 and July 22, and case 12491 had also received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) in Hong Kong on June 24 and July 15. They had been asymptomatic. The Ct value for the test after admission on December 10 for both patients is less than 30 and both tested positive for antibody. The whole genome sequencing conducted by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed that the two cases carried the Variant of Concern Omicron. There are so far seven cases involving Omicron in Hong Kong. Apart from the aforementioned cases, two cases are related to South Africa (cases 12388 and 12404), two cases are related to Nigeria (cases 12432 and 12433) and one case is related to the United States (case 12478).

     A spokesman for the CHP said, as the seven cases involving Omicron were all detected at the Hong Kong International Airport restricted area or at a designated quarantine hotel, there has not been a spread in the community. The CHP will adopt the most stringent prevention and control measures to prevent the mutant strain from entering the local community.
 
     According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local COVID-19 cases with mutant strains, the CHP reminded that persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).

     Specified persons in relation to the following specified premises are also reminded to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice tomorrow (December 14):

• The Kimberley Hotel, 28 Kimberley Road, Tsim Sha Tsui

     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 or the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

     â€‹â€‹The spokesman for the CHP stressed, "The global situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility, and there are also reports of breakthrough infections in some vaccinated individuals. The CHP strongly urges members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, in particular to specified places with high risk under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)."

     Police today (December 13) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Tuen Mun.

     Chan Siu-tong, aged 40, went missing after he was last seen at a clinic on Tuen Lee Street on October 22 afternoon. The staff of his rehabilitation centre made a report to Police on the next day.

     He is about 1.7 metres tall, 70 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a round face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a grey jacket, a white shirt, black trousers and black shoes.
      
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of New Territories North on 3661 3112 or email to rmpu-ntn-1@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
     
 

  

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 13) investigating an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) at a child care centre in Sai Ying Pun, and appeals to members of the public and staff of institutions to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.

     The outbreak involves 20 children, comprising 11 boys and nine girls between 7 and 20 months old. They developed fever, cough and runny nose since November 26. Sixteen of them sought medical attention and four required hospitalisation and were discharged. All of them are in stable condition.

     Officers of the CHP have advised the child care centre to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory infections. The child care centre has been put under medical surveillance. In addition, since the symptoms of URTI are similar to those of COVID-19, for prudence's sake, the child care centre was covered in the compulsory testing notice (CTN) on December 2 to exclude the possibility of COVID-19 infection. The child care centre has already suspended teaching activities for at least five days for cleaning and executing the CTN.

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses and note the following:
 

• Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub;
• Cover the nose and mouth with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     â€‹Members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, should wear a face mask and consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection.