The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (July 28) launched the COVID-19 testing service for staff of market stalls. The testing agency (Prenetics Limited) will progressively deliver specimen bottles to the staff of all markets stalls and personnel working in markets for collecting deep throat saliva samples from today. Persons concerned do not need to make registration online.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "To strengthen the anti-epidemic work, the Government earlier launched the voluntary one-off free testing service for high risk groups, which include catering business staff group (including licensed restaurants, licensed light refreshment restaurants, licensed marine restaurants, licensed factory canteens, school canteens, staff canteens, public market cooked food/light refreshment stalls and licensed cooked food hawker stalls). In view of the severe epidemic situation recently, the Government announced yesterday that the testing service will be extended to other groups including market stall tenants."

     The spokesman said, "Starting from today, the FEHD will arrange voluntary one-off free virus testing service for staff of market stalls and personnel working in markets. No online registration is required. The testing agency will be responsible for the provision of one-stop service and deliver specimen bottles to markets for collecting deep throat saliva samples, and then collect the samples in the subsequent one to two days for testing. Cases with positive results will be relayed to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health for follow-up."

     The FEHD will work closely with the testing agency to determine priority of each market set with reference to a risk-based approach and manpower resources.

     The testing agency plans to cover markets in Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong in its work for these few days, and has started today by dispatching staff to Wong Tai Sin district to distribute specimen bottles. The testing agency will progressively follow up the testing work in other districts.

     The FEHD strongly appeals to market stall tenants to actively participate in the testing scheme, and continue to comply with the Government's regulation to wear a mask in markets, and to maintain personal and environmental hygiene continuously.

     For details of the testing scheme, please call the hotline of the testing agency (Prenetics Limited) at 3008 8319 or visit the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk).

    

     The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) is today (July 28) investigating a cluster of Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) infection affecting five renal patients.
 
     The DH received notification from the Hospital Authority (HA) that the Kowloon East Cluster (KEC) has identified a cluster of BCC infection in peritoneal dialysis patients. Investigations by the KEC renal teams identified BCC from the clinical specimens collected from the catheter exit site of five peritoneal dialysis patients from late March to mid-June this year. The affected persons involved three males and two females, aged 23 to 67. One patient developed peritonitis and was hospitalised for treatment. He had been discharged and the other four patients had recovered after management.
 
     According to the surveillance by the HA, BCC was identified in some samples of the same lot (lot number: 19090428) of a spray dressing named JUC found to be used by the patients for skin disinfection and catheter exit site care. The DH urges members of the public not to use the product for wound care because the product may be contaminated by bacteria.
 
      Based on the product information, the JUC spray dressing forms a physical film on skin or wound surface. It is classified as a medical device based on the mode of action. The product is manufactured by NMS Technologies Co., Ltd and distributed by JUC Biomaterial Co. Ltd.  The distributor is voluntarily recalling the affected lot of the product from the market and has set up a hotline (2559 5227) to answer related enquiries.
 
      According to the local supplier, the affected product had been distributed to public and private hospitals, private clinics and community pharmacies.
 
      The DH's epidemiological investigation is still on-going.
 
     "Members of the public, especially those who have weakened immune systems, such as renal patients, should pay extra attention to personal hygiene. The public should also follow the instructions given by healthcare workers on wound care," a spokesman for the DH said.
 
     "Burkholderia cepacia is a bacteria which is commonly found in water, soil, and moist environments. It is generally not pathogenic to healthy person but those who have weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases may be more susceptible to infection with the bacteria," the spokesman explained.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority (HA) received a notification from Kowloon East Cluster (KEC) last Friday that Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) was cultured in six samples of the same lot of antimicrobial spray. The HA informed all public hospitals to temporarily suspend the use of the antimicrobial spray.
 
     The HA spokesperson said some peritoneal dialysis patients use antimicrobial spray for catheter exit site wound care. The HA received notification from KEC last Friday that the United Christian Hospital (UCH) Renal Team detected an infection on the catheter exit wound in a peritoneal dialysis patient. Further investigation by KEC identified BCC from the clinical specimens collected from the catheter exit site of five peritoneal dialysis patients from March to mid-June this year. One patient who developed peritonitis was admitted to the hospital for treatment and has been discharged, the other four patients recovered after treatment.
 
     A series of laboratory tests were conducted by KEC, and BCC was cultured in six samples of the same lot of antimicrobial spray. KEC immediately stopped using the product in the renal ward and renal centre.
 
     "Similar incidents of infection have not been reported by other public hospitals. Healthcare staff will advise discharged patients on the management of catheter exit site and wound care. The HA has informed other public hospitals to suspend the use of antimicrobial spray of the same lot and temporarily suspend the use of other lots of the product. Healthcare product shops in public hospitals have also been informed to suspend selling the spray concerned.
 
     "We have notified the Department of Health (DH) about the situation. The HA and KEC will co-operate with the DH to follow up on the incident," the HA spokesperson added.

     A correctional officer stopped a 30-year-old male remand person in custody from committing suicide by hanging at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (July 28).

     At 12.58pm today, a correctional officer found the remand person in custody attempting suicide by hanging with a bedsheet tied to the grille bars of his cell. The officer immediately stopped the act and called for reinforcement. The person in custody was found conscious. After receiving examination and treatment in the institution hospital, he was referred to a public hospital for further treatment. Preliminary information attributes the incident to relationship issues.

     A clinical psychologist of the department will follow up on the case.

     A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, "The department uses all possible measures to prevent person in custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first aid services."

     The person in custody was remanded for the offences of possession of things with intent to destroy or damage property, etc.

     A total of 13 nomination forms for the 2020 Legislative Council General Election were received today (July 28) by the Returning Officers for the five geographical constituencies and the 29 functional constituencies.
 
     This brings to 114 the total number of nomination forms received since the start of the nomination period on July 18. The nomination period will continue until July 31.
 
     A spokesman for the Registration and Electoral Office advised nominees to submit their nomination forms as early as possible to allow ample time to correct mistakes, if any, in the nomination forms before the deadline.
 
     The number of nomination forms received for each geographical constituency is as follows:
 

 
     The number of nomination forms received for each functional constituency is as follows:
 

 
     Particulars of the nominees will be available on the election website (www.elections.gov.hk/legco2020/eng/nominat.html).