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Author Archives: hksar gov

SFH attends WHO Western Pacific regional meeting (with photos)

     â€‹The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (October 25) virtually attended the meeting of the 72nd session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for the Western Pacific.
      
     Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health restrictions, the Regional Committee meeting this year is held in a hybrid format under which members may participate on-site at Himeji, Japan, or virtually through video conferencing. As the pandemic continues around the world, the meeting focuses on the anti-epidemic work by members of the Regional Committee and regional co-operation, in addition to other health-related issues including primary healthcare, use of traditional and complementary medicine, and the health of future generations.
      
     “Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has implemented various anti-epidemic measures, including border controls, social distancing, testing, contact tracing and quarantine measures as well as a community-wide vaccination programme, etc. The HKSAR Government has responded promptly and successfully to four waves of the epidemic so far with the above measures. It is encouraging to see that Hong Kong has no local cases with unknown sources of infection for most of the days in the past few months and has basically achieved zero infection. As the epidemic situation in Hong Kong continues to remain stable, we have adopted a new direction in fighting the epidemic since April by adjusting various anti-epidemic measures with a ‘vaccine bubble’ as the basis, with a view to restoring our city to normality in a gradual and orderly manner,” Professor Chan said during the discussion on COVID-19.

     “As the global pandemic situation is still under serious threat from mutant strains, we will continue to stay vigilant to cope with next wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. Towards this end, we will consolidate the experience gained, strengthen our current capacities and map out targeted and refined strategies. Looking forward, it is important for the HKSAR and the wider international community to continue to press ahead with large-scale vaccination of the general public, particularly the elderly, in order to build an immune barrier for the entire community. On the other hand, as Hong Kong is gradually returning to normality, we would put greater focus and efforts on other priority areas in the health portfolio including strengthening primary healthcare and developing Chinese medicine.”
      
     Professor Chan also reaffirmed the HKSAR Government’s commitment in maintaining close collaboration with the WHO and the Regional Committee in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic.
      
     The Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Mr Thomas Chan, and the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, are also members of the HKSAR delegation.

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East Asia

CHP investigates four additional confirmed cases of COVID-19

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, October 25, the CHP was investigating four additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 328 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 327 confirmed cases and one probable case).

     The newly reported cases are imported cases. Three of the cases involved mutant strains, and the mutation test result of the remaining case is pending. The patients comprise one male and three females, aged 38 to 79. Two of them arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk) and the other two arrived from a Group B specified place (medium-risk). Case 12333 is a close contact of the previously confirmed imported case 12327 and she tested positive at the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre. Two patients tested positive during quarantine and one of them tested positive at the designated quarantine facility (Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre). The remaining patient tested positive under the “test-and-hold” arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre at Hong Kong International Airport.

     A total of 62 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (October 11 to 24) and all of them are imported cases.
 
     According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local COVID-19 cases with mutant strains, the CHP reminded people that persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on days 3, 7, 12 and 19 following the announcement of the relevant confirmed cases by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day. Relevant deadlines of compulsory testing for respective specified premises are listed on the Government’s website 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 (October 26):

  • Golden Glory Court, Phase 1, Golden Lion Garden, 5-7 Chui Tin Street, Sha Tin
     
     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 list of buildings with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and the latest local situation of COVID-19 available on the website “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk). The DH has also been closely monitoring the mutant strains of SARS CoV-2 and has uploaded the relevant information on Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (VOIs), based on whole genome sequencing results, to the CHP’s website (www.chp.gov.hk/en/statistics/data/10/641/100135/6973.html). The data will be updated regularly.

     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).”

     The spokesman reminded, “If travel is unavoidable, the CHP highly recommends the public to be fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines before their departure. They should avoid participating in non-essential mass gatherings or events held outside Hong Kong. They should continue to wear a surgical mask and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times. Parents are also urged to avoid taking unvaccinated children travelling.”

     The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk). Generally speaking, COVID-19 vaccination can prevent COVID-19 infection, and if infected, reduce the risk of severe disease and death from COVID-19.

     â€‹The CHP called on members of the public to pay attention to their health condition, seek medical advice early and undergo COVID-19 nucleic acid testing as soon as possible if respiratory symptoms develop. They should also maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times to protect themselves against infection and prevent the spread of the disease in the community. For more related health advice, please refer to the website www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/health-advice.html. read more

East Asia