A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (March 19) that a pet dog sent to the AFCD has repeatedly tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. This is another infected case following … read more
The Under Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Chui Tak-yi; the Head of the Communicable Disease Branch of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health, Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan; and the Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Clinical Effectiveness and Technology Management), Dr Linda Yu, held a press briefing on the latest situation of COVID-19 this afternoon (March 19). Following are the opening remarks by Dr Chui:
Hong Kong is facing a new wave of public health risks from import-related COVID-19 infections. In the past two weeks, from March 5 to March 18, around 92 per cent are imported cases and cases related to their close contacts and those with travel history during the incubation period. Of these cases, only two involve non-Hong Kong residents, and the rest are Hong Kong residents.
The World Health Organization had declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic on March 11. Globally, the number of recorded cases has continued to surge to more than 200,000, with over 80,000 cases in the Mainland and more than 120,000 cases overseas. The HKSAR Government has issued the Red Outbound Travel Alert on all overseas countries and territories on March 17, and we advise against non-essential travel abroad.
From early this morning (March 19), all people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to any overseas countries/territories in the past 14 days are subject to compulsory quarantine. Meanwhile, the quarantine measures announced earlier for people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to two areas in Korea, Iran and also three regions in Italy, as well as Hong Kong residents returning from Hubei Province, in the past 14 days to stay in a quarantine centre for quarantine remain unchanged. The measure that all people entering Hong Kong from other parts of the Mainland apart from Hubei will be required to undergo compulsory quarantine upon their arrival also remains unchanged.
For those who have travelled or returned to Hong Kong earlier before these measures take place, please be mindful of personal hygiene and pay attention to social distance. Please continue to wear a mask for 14 days. Do avoid gatherings.
If one of your household members is under home quarantine, please pay attention to the health advice of the Department of Health.
For those who must leave Hong Kong, please be mindful of the potential health risks and the quarantine arrangements upon return to Hong Kong. Please put on a surgical mask all the time, avoid close contact with persons with a fever or respiratory symptoms, avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities and crowded places, and seek medical advice at once if experiencing a fever or respiratory symptoms.
For those who have plans to come back to Hong Kong, please pay attention to the points to note on the plane to avoid the chance of infection.
For those who are overseas and have already developed symptoms, please consult a doctor and do not come back for your own good and for the health of other people.
For the friends of different ethnicities in Hong Kong, we have health tips for you at the Government’s thematic website, www.cornavirus.gov.hk
The pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 has brought tremendous challenges to Hong Kong. To reduce the risk of importation of COVID-19 to Hong Kong, and to alleviate the pressure on our healthcare system, we need the co-operation and support of every one of you in Hong Kong in fighting against the virus. Thank you. read more
The Government has set aside $710 million under the Anti-epidemic Fund to implement targeted measures to support the construction industry in combating the effects of COVID-19, reducing the risk of viral infection and spread among site workers, and preventing outbreaks of the disease on construction sites that would lead to mass suspension of work among construction workers.
These measures include a subsidy of $50,000 each to about 7 000 eligible contractors, subcontractors and consultants, as well as a subsidy of $1,500 each to about 240 000 in-service construction workers, who need to work in a labour-intensive environment on construction sites, to help cover the extra expenses for procuring anti-epidemic equipment.
A spokesman for the Development Bureau said today (March 19) that as of yesterday (March 18), about 4 000 companies and 200 000 construction workers had applied for the subsidies, of which over 2 200 companies and about 156 000 construction workers received the subsidies. The total amount disbursed exceeded $340 million.
“Shortly after the approval of the Anti-epidemic Fund by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on February 21, application for the subsidy by the industry through the Construction Industry Council (CIC) commenced on February 24. We would like to thank the CIC for its assistance in launching the dedicated website and mobile app within a short time to facilitate easy application,” the spokesman said.
Eligible companies or workers who have not yet submitted their applications may visit the CIC’s dedicated website for details (www.cic.hk/eng/main/anti_epidemic_fund/). The deadline for application is August 31.
For more details, please call the CIC hotline at 3199 7377 or email PPEFund@cic.hk. read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (March 19) reported three suspected cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The cases are detailed below:
| Sex | Female | Female | Female |
| Age | 60 | 19 | 48 |
| Affected area involved | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| High-risk exposure | Nil | Camel ride | Camel ride |
| Hospital | North District Hospital | Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital | Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital |
| Condition | Stable | Stable | Stable |
| MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result | Negative | Negative | Negative |
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) has announced that the Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Programme, which provides a free testing service for COVID-19, will be further extended today (March 19) to cover asymptomatic persons under the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E), with an aim of identifying cases of COVID-19 early in order to minimise the risk of community transmission.
The Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the CHP will provide testing for 5 000 samples from the relevant persons per week. Taking reference from clinical and research statistics around the globe, the DH concurred that elderly people infected with COVID-19 usually present with a more serious clinical condition or are more prone to complications, and are thus subject to higher potential risk. Hence, persons under quarantine aged 65 or above or persons under quarantine residing with elderly persons aged 65 or above are target individuals at this stage.
Starting from this afternoon, the DH’s personnel will provide a specimen container to the relevant inbound travellers at Hong Kong International Airport. They are required to collect their deep throat saliva sample in the morning on the specified collection date by themselves at home in accordance with the instructions, and to have their family members or friends deliver it to any of the 13 designated chest clinics or dermatological clinics under the DH by 1pm on the collection date. For details on collection points, please refer to www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/list_of_collection_points_en.pdf.
If a sample tests positive, the CHP will notify the person concerned and arrange for admission to a public hospital for treatment as early as possible. In general, if no notification is received within three working days after returning a sample, it means the test result is negative and the person concerned is required to continue the quarantine until the quarantine period ends. read more