The following is issued on behalf of the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council:
 
     The Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund Council reminded interested students today (August 3) that its Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies (including the award for students with disabilities) for the academic year 2021/22 have been accepting applications since July 2.
 
     The fellowships and scholarships aim at encouraging outstanding students to pursue further studies in reputable institutions overseas. Successful candidates for the awards are expected to have a strong sense of commitment to Hong Kong and be ready to contribute significantly to the community upon graduation.
 
     The fellowships are for studies leading to postgraduate degrees either by research or by coursework; the scholarships are for studies leading to undergraduate degrees.
 
     The applicants will be responsible for fulfilling all application procedures and admission requirements of the academic institutions of their choice.
 
     The maximum value of a fellowship is HK$300,000 per year, tenable for up to three years for a doctoral degree or two years for a master's degree. The maximum value of a scholarship is HK$280,000 per year, tenable for up to three years.
 
     Application forms and information notes can be downloaded from the website of the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency at www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/en/forms/form.htm.
 
     The documents are also available at the following offices:
 
(a)     Student Finance Office
          Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency
          Reception Hall, 11/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices
          303 Cheung Sha Wan Road
          Kowloon
 
(b)     Trust Funds and Temples Joint Secretariat
          Reception Counter, 34/F, Wu Chung House
          213 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai
          Hong Kong
 
     For enquiries, please call (852) 2150 6097 or (852) 2150 6098.
 
     The closing date for all applications is September 18, 2020. For Fellowships and Scholarships for Overseas Studies, short-listed applicants will be invited to attend interviews in person in Hong Kong. The first round of interviews is scheduled for January 2021. If found suitable, applicants will be invited for a final interview to be held around February/March 2021. Applicants short-listed for the Overseas Fellowship/Scholarship for Disabled Students will be invited to attend one round of interview in person in Hong Kong around February/March 2021.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

     As Hong Kong Observatory has cancelled all the typhoon warning signals, the Civil Engineering and Development Department today (August 3) announced that the Chai Wan Public Fill Barging Point will be reopened at 8.45am and the Mui Wo Temporary Public Fill Reception Facility will be reopened at 8.30am.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson of Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) made the following announcement today (August 2) on the confirmed COVID-19 infection of a physician:
 
     An internal medicine and geriatric doctor from CMC sought treatment with sore throat on July 31. His nasopharyngeal swab and deep throat saliva samples taken yesterday were tested positive for COVID-19 today.  He is currently receiving isolation treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital.  The two family members who lived with him developed symptoms on July 23 and July 27; and were diagnosed on July 31 and August 1, respectively.
 
     After the CMC was informed yesterday, the Hospital Infection Control Team has followed up the incident with the Chief Infection Control Officer and the Centre for Health Protection.  Close contacts were traced, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and supporting staff.  Currently, a total of three medical staff have been classified as close contacts and need to be quarantined for 14 days.  In addition, 24 healthcare staff and 17 patients are listed as other contacts, subject to 28-day medical surveillance and COVID-19 testing.  Currently, all staff members have tested negative.
 
     The affected doctor had treated two COVID-19 patients (case number 2688, and a preliminary positive case aged 87), both of whom were admitted to the medical ward.  During his clinical duties, the doctor complied with COVID-19 infection control guidelines, including the wearing of appropriate personal protective equipment and hand hygiene.  Since the doctor’s family members first developed symptoms, it was epidemiologically inferred that he has acquired infection from his family cluster.
 
     The above-mentioned preliminary confirmed case of the 87-year-old male patient came from the Siu Sin Nursing Centre on Tai Po Road.  He was admitted to the surveillance ward of CMC on July 23 and was transferred to the medical ward after being tested negative.   Upon hospitalisation, the patient developed fever and his physical condition deteriorated. He required high-flow oxygen to maintain breathing.  On August 1, the hospital conducted another viral test for him. The result was positive. The patient was transferred to the isolation ward for further treatment. The current condition is serious.  The source of the patient’s infection is still under investigation, and 24 patients who had stayed in the same cubicle and about 20 healthcare staff were classified as close contacts and required isolation and quarantine. Their viral tests were negative to COVID-19 at this stage.  The contact tracing is still on-going.
 
     Together with the two previously confirmed patients (case numbers: 2604 and 2688) on July 24 and 25, respectively, a total of three patients in the same ward have tested positively for COVID-19 in the past nine days .  It was confirmed that patients with case numbers 2604 and 2688 were tested positive for COVID-19 at the time of admission and were community acquired infections.
 
     As a precautionary measure, admission and discharge of patients in the ward concerned has been suspended. The hospital is also conducting viral tests for all patients in the ward, and the results are negative.
 
     The hospital has arranged thorough cleaning and disinfection in the relevant areas; strengthened the infection control support for various clinical and non-clinical departments; and reminding staff to wear masks at all times and avoid having meals with other colleagues.  The hospital will continue to provide the necessary assistance to employees of departments concerned and continue to closely monitor the health of staff members and patients.  It will also maintains communication with the Centre for Health Protection to follow up on the latest situation.
 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has announced that as of 0.00am, August 2, the CHP was investigating 115 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 3 512 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 3 511 confirmed cases and one probable case).
     
     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).
 
     In view of the severe epidemic situation, the CHP called on members of the public to avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. They should put on a surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out. As a number of recent cases involve elderly people, the CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with everyday tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a 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, regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps) and 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."
 
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates. Members of the public may also gain access to information via the COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline launched by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Simply by saving 9617 1823 in their phone contacts or clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi, they will be able to obtain information on COVID-19 as well as the "StayHomeSafe" mobile app and wristband via WhatsApp.
 
     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 performing 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 doorknobs, 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 litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap) 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.

     A spokesman for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (August 2) expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Central Government for its proactive response to the request of the HKSAR Government made in the face of the severe epidemic in Hong Kong and the speedy formation of a Mainland nucleic acid test support team to support the anti-epidemic work of the HKSAR.
      
     The support team was co-ordinated by the Central Government and formed by the National Health Commission. Seven of the members arrived in Hong Kong today and will start work tomorrow (August 3) to assist with the preparation for a temporary laboratory with a view to raising considerably the virus testing capability of the HKSAR to meet the need of the Government to extend the coverage of community testing. To strengthen collaboration, the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, gave clear instructions on how to launch large-scale virus testing in the internal anti-epidemic steering committee meeting held in the afternoon yesterday (August 1).
      
     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Erick Tsang Kwok-wai today, represented the HKSAR Government to welcome the seven members of the Mainland nucleic acid test support team. They both expressed gratitude to the Central Government for its proactive response to the request of the HKSAR Government and the speedy formation of the support team to support the anti-epidemic work of the HKSAR. The relevant departments of the HKSAR will work closely with members of the support team to formulate a concrete work plan as soon as possible.

     Meanwhile, the HKSAR Government also noticed that certain individuals are spreading rumours intentionally on the Internet, claiming the Government will transport the DNA data of the public to the Mainland during virus testing, the HKSAR Government solemnly clarified that this is absolutely unfounded, emphasising that all anti-epidemic work done by the Government completely complied with the requirements of the law. The Central Government's support aims at enhancing the virus testing capacity. All virus testing will only be conducted in Hong Kong, samples of which will not be transported to the Mainland for testing. Regarding some people deliberately spreading false rumours, attacking the anti-epidemic work of the Government, the Government condemned such acts. As to whether spreading untrue claims intentionally by certain individuals would constitute criminal offence, the relevant Government departments will study the matter carefully and collect evidences for follow-up.
      
     Given the severe epidemic situation in Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government sought the assistance of the Central Government earlier, primarily in the areas of enhancing virus testing capacity and establishing makeshift treatment facilities, and received staunch support by the Central Government. Representatives of the relevant departments of the Mainland and relevant officials of the HKSAR met earlier and set up a working group to take charge of the implementation work. In addition to the above-mentioned support team, the HKSAR Government is pleased to learn that the National Health Commission has formed another support team to assist the HKSAR Government to establish a makeshift community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo similar to the "mobile cabin hospital". The HKSAR Government expressed the hope that with the support of the Central Government, the whole community will fight the virus together to curb the increasingly severe epidemic as soon as possible.