The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has announced that as of 0.00am, August 1, the CHP was investigating 125 additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 3 397 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 3 396 confirmed cases and one probable case).
     
     Among the newly reported cases announced, one had travel history during the incubation period.

     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 every day 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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Queen Mary Hospital (QMH) made an announcement today (August 1) on a clerical staff tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19:
      
     A female clerical staff of shroff counter at QMH sought medical treatment at QMH Staff Clinic yesterday (July 31) due to sore throat, cough and running rose. Her deep throat saliva test result released this afternoon was preliminarily positive to COVID-19 while confirmatory test is still pending. The staff had been working mainly at shroff counter on 1/F of Block S and she worked today. She had been wearing surgical mask during her duty.
      
     Infection Control Team (ICT) of QMH is working closely with the Centre for Health Protection(CHP) for contact tracing upon the preliminary test result. So far, a total of four shroff counter staff members have been listed as close contacts and they would be required to be quarantined. The hospital will continue to investigate and contact staff of the concerned department to understand their situations. Based on the on-site assessment by ICT, there are partitions between staff members and the public for each shroff counter. The contact between staff members and the public is brief.
      
     QMH will suspend the service of the shroff concerned on 1/F of Block S for 14 days from tomorrow at 9am until August 16. During the suspension period, patients can settle their payment at Admission Office or Accident and Emergency Department. The service of these payment locations will be enhanced accordingly. QMH also encourages patients to use payment kiosks with Octopus card.
      
     In view of the escalating situation of COVID-19, the hospital has enhanced the infection control measures for all clinical and non-clinical departments. Trainings have been stepped up and provided to related departments. Staff are reminded to wear surgical masks and avoid having meals with other colleagues.
      
     QMH will conduct thorough cleansing and disinfection at the shroff concerned tomorrow. The hospital will continue to provide assistance to staff members of the department and will closely monitor health condition of concerned staff member while maintaining close liaison with the CHP.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (August 1) reminded employers to make practical and reasonable work arrangements for staff after typhoons and rainstorms. Employers should also make flexible arrangements for staff to resume work after a typhoon or rainstorm warning is cancelled, with due consideration to road, traffic and other conditions. This will help maintain good labour-management relations and ensure the safety of employees and the smooth operation of establishments.
 
     "For staff who have practical difficulties in resuming work on time upon the cancellation of a typhoon or rainstorm warning, employers should give due consideration to the situations of individual employees and handle each case flexibly," an LD spokesman said.
 
     "As typhoons and rainstorms are natural occurrences that cannot be avoided, for employees who are not able to report for duty or resume work on time due to adverse weather conditions, employers should not withhold their wages, good attendance bonus or allowances without reasons. Employers should enquire into the reasons and give due consideration to the exceptional circumstances in each case and should not penalise or dismiss the employee concerned rashly," he said.
 
     The spokesman also reminded employers to observe the statutory liabilities and requirements under the Employment Ordinance, the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance, the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Minimum Wage Ordinance. 
 
     Employers should not deduct annual leave, statutory holidays or rest days employees are entitled to under the Employment Ordinance to compensate for the loss of working hours resulting from employees' failure to report for duty when Typhoon Signal No. 8, the Black Rainstorm Warning or the post-super typhoon "extreme conditions" announcement is in force. An employer who without reasonable excuse fails to comply with the relevant provisions under the Employment Ordinance is liable to prosecution. 
 
     Employers should also note that they have an obligation to provide and maintain a safe working environment for their employees under the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance.
 
     The LD has published the "Code of Practice in Times of Typhoons and Rainstorms", which provides a reference for employers and employees on the work and resumption of work arrangements in the event of the Government issuing the post-super typhoon "extreme conditions" announcement, as well as the major principles, the framework, the reference guidelines and information on relevant legislation for reference in drawing up the work arrangements under adverse weather conditions. The booklet can be obtained from branch offices of the Labour Relations Division or downloaded from the department's webpage (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/wcp/Rainstorm.pdf).

Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:

    As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 has been cancelled, the Home Affairs Department's emergency hotline 2572 8427 has ceased to operate.

     A spokesman for the Chief Executive's Office today (August 1) expressed regret over misleading reports by individual media organisations on the communication between the Chief Executive and members of the government anti-epidemic expert advisory group.

     At the press conference yesterday (July 31), the Chief Executive explained in details the grounds for the postponement of the 2020 Legislative Council General Election. In addressing the questions raised by the media, the Chief Executive again explained the interaction and tacit understanding between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and its expert advisers developed in the past seven months over anti-epidemic work, noting that each anti-epidemic measure was rolled out by the Government after thorough consideration of all relevant factors. She also said clearly that she had not discussed the postponement of the election with any of the government expert advisers. All the expert opinions quoted by the Chief Executive at the press conference were related to the epidemic, including the concerns by one of the experts about the current situation given the large proportion of confirmed cases with unknown infection sources and the inadequacy in contact tracing. The Chief Executive's Office expressed regret over individual groundless media reports which attempted to mislead readers into believing that the views on elections quoted by the Chief Executive originated from the experts. To avoid unnecessary misunderstanding, the Chief Executive took the initiative to clarify with the four experts attending the anti-epidemic expert advisory group meeting this afternoon.

     The Chief Executive's Office stressed that amid the present severe epidemic, various sectors in the community should unite together to fight the disease. Any person who attempts to create division in society runs counter to the goal of combatting the virus together.