At about 8pm today (August 31), protestors have gathered and chanted slogans in Mong Kok. Some have blocked carriageways with traffic cones on Sai Yeung Choi Street South. Police at scene have repeatedly given warnings and… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority: The spokesperson for Pok Oi Hospital (POH) made the following announcement today (August 31) concerning a male patient tested preliminarily positive for COVID… read more
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson remarked today (August 31) that the HA supports the Government’s Universal Community Testing Programme. The programme dovetails with the epidemic control policy of “early identification, early isolation and early treatment”. The programme will help identify and eliminate the invisible transmission link in the community. By managing the epidemic, pressure of public hospitals can be alleviated and normal operation can be resumed as soon as possible.
In the Administrative and Operational Meeting held last Thursday (August 27), the HA Board noted and supported HA’s measures in assisting the preparation of the Government’s Universal Community Testing Programme. The HA has provided the equipment and manpower to conduct fit tests of surgical respirators for the programme staff and expedited the approval of HA healthcare staff in participating the specimen collection work in test centres.
The HA also encourages its staff to join the testing. Public hospitals will get prepared in terms of manpower and facilities in light of possible increase in confirmed patients. The HA spokesperson said that large scale community testing will also reduce staff and inpatient infection risks.
“With a few public hospitals having nosocomial infections due to occult patients, the HA agreed that large scale community testing programme together with various ongoing screening arrangements for high risk groups can reduce the infection risks of frontline staff and other patients in the hospitals.”
“Since late July, the HA has arranged distribution of specimen packs for individuals who perceive themselves to have higher risk of exposure and experience mild discomfort, under the ‘Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Programme’ of the Department of Health. By far, over 40 000 people have collected the specimen packs and 62 have been tested positive for COVID-19, preventing further transmission in the community by these people,” the spokesperson said.
“The Board Members agreed that Hong Kong has to control the epidemic as soon as possible to alleviate the pressure of public hospitals, so as to resume normal operation and provide the necessary healthcare services for the community,” the spokesperson added. read more
As at 6pm today (August 31), about 553 000 people have successfully registered for the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP), to be launched tomorrow (September 1), since the online booking system commenced operation on … read more
A Government spokesman said today (August 31), that applications for the second tranche of the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) are open today for two weeks. Up to 6pm today, nearly 52 000 applications from employers and over 2 000 applications from self-employed persons have been received. Among the employers’ applications received today, 96 per cent of the employer applicants have successfully applied for the first tranche of the ESS.
The spokesman said, “We will expeditiously process all the applications received. Most eligible employers who have provided accurate and complete information are expected to receive wage subsidies in three to four weeks after submission of their application.”
Upon completion of the processing of applications, the ESS Secretariat will inform successful applicants of the results via SMS and email. Applicants can log in to the ESS portal (www.ess.gov.hk) to check the amount of subsidy granted and the committed paid headcount for the months of September to November 2020.
Eligible employers and self-employed persons can submit online applications for the second tranche of wage subsidies through the ESS portal (www.ess.gov.hk) until 11.59pm on September 13 (Sunday).
The spokesman said, “Self-employed persons (SEPs) with ‘MPF self-employed person’ accounts which have not been terminated as of March 31 can also submit applications for the $7,500 one-off lump sum subsidy during the application period for the second tranche of the ESS if they have not received the subsidy in the first tranche.”
Interested employers and self-employed persons are advised to visit the ESS portal to obtain detailed information including details of eligibility, application procedures, calculation of subsidies, terms and conditions, undertakings and more.
For enquiries, please send an email to enquiry@employmentsupport.hk or call the ESS hotline (1836 122). The service hours of the hotline are as follows.
| August 31 – September 9 | 9am to 6pm |
| September 10 – 12 | 9am to 8pm |
| September 13 | 9am to 0.30am of the following day |
| August 31 – September 9 | 9am to 6pm |
| September 10 – 12 | 9am to 8pm |
| September 13 | 9am to 10pm |