The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 8pm today (February 29), the CHP is investigating one additional case of COVID-19, taking the number of confirmed cases to 95 in Hong Kong so far.
      
     The confirmed case is associated with the cluster related to a Buddhist temple named Fook Wai Ching She. It involves a 46-year-old woman (the 95th case) who is the daughter-in-law of a 70-year-old female patient of the 92nd case confirmed on February 27. The patient with good past health lives in Block 4, Bauhinia Garden, Tseung Kwan O. As a close contact of a confirmed case, she had been transferred to Heritage Lodge of the Jao Tsung-I Academy quarantine centre since February 27. She developed sore throat today and her deep throat saliva specimen was tested positive for COVID-19 virus and was admitted to United Christian Hospital for treatment. She is now in a stable condition. The patient had no travel history during the incubation period and did not visit Fook Wai Ching She. Her husband and son who live with her are under quarantine.　　 ã€€ã€€

   The CHP's epidemiological investigations revealed that the 95th case together with the patients of the 64th, 65th, 70th, 73rd, 74th, 76th, 77th, 83rd, 84th, 86th, 89th, 91st, 92nd and 93rd cases announced earlier (15 patients in total) had all visited Fook Wai Ching She in Maylun Apartments in January or February or had association with confirmed cases who had been to the temple. People who had visited the temple on January 25 onwards are again urged to call the CHP hotline and those who developed relevant symptoms will be arranged to hospitals for treatment.

     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. For the progress on the contact tracing of the cases, please see annex.
 
     A spokesman for the CHP said, "According to our preliminary epidemiological investigations, clusters are observed in local community involving large meal gatherings and other gatherings. Members of the public are urged to go out less and reduce social activities such as meals gatherings or other gatherings, and maintain appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible."
 
     The spokesman said, "The CHP strongly urged 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 the 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 and regularly pour water into drain outlets (U-traps); after using the toilet, they should put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs."
 
     The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Health Commission of Guangdong Province and the Hospital Authority.
     
     The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for public enquiries. The hotline operates from 8am to midnight daily. As at 4pm today, a total of 24 447 calls were received.
 
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public grasp the latest updates.
 
     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 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 door knobs; 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 liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;
• 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 public should take heed of the health advice below when travelling outside Hong Kong:
 
• Do not travel to Hubei Province of Mainland where there is widespread community transmission of COVID-19 virus;
• Avoid unnecessary travel to Korea (especially Daegu and Gyeongsangbuk-do where the majority of the cases were reported); Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions in Italy which cover Bologna, Milan, Venice and Verona, as well as Iran;
• When travelling to countries/areas with active community transmission of COVID-19 virus, the public should avoid close contact with persons with fever or respiratory symptoms. If it is unavoidable to come into contact with them, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong;
• Avoid visiting hospitals. If it is necessary to visit a hospital, put on a surgical mask and observe strict personal and hand hygiene;
• Avoid touching animals (including game), poultry/birds or their droppings;
• Avoid visiting wet markets, live poultry markets or farms;
• Avoid making close contact with patients, especially those with symptoms of acute respiratory infections;
• Do not consume game meat and do not patronise food premises where game meat is served;
• Adhere to food safety and hygiene rules such as avoiding consuming raw or undercooked animal products, including milk, eggs and meat, or foods which may be contaminated by animal secretions, excretions (such as urine) or contaminated products, unless they have been properly cooked, washed or peeled;
• If feeling unwell when outside Hong Kong, especially if experiencing a fever or cough, wear a surgical mask, inform the hotel staff or tour escort and seek medical advice at once; and
• After returning to Hong Kong, consult a doctor promptly if experiencing a fever or other symptoms, take the initiative to inform the doctor of any recent travel history and any exposure to animals, and wear a surgical mask to help prevent spread of the disease.

     Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     At around 6pm today (February 29), protestors gathered outside Mong Kok Police Station and later occupied Nathan Road and westbound of Prince Edward Road West, seriously paralysing traffic. At around 8.30pm, rioters threw petrol bombs at the junction of Nathan Road and Argyle Street and set fire on barricades, posing a serious threat to public safety.

     In the face of the situation, Police have used minimum necessary force, including tear gas, for dispersal and arrest operation.

     Police warn all rioters to stop unlawful acts. Police will take resolute law enforcement actions. Police appeal to members of the public to leave the scene immediately. Drivers are also advised to avoid travelling to the relevant area.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for the Hospital Authority (HA) today (February 29) announced the following service arrangements:
      
     Due to safety concern for patients and staff members owing to the ongoing operation of the Police in handling a suspected bomb in Happy Valley, the Sunday Clinic service tomorrow (March 1) of the Violet Peel General Out-patient Clinic, located at Tang Shiu Kin Hospital, will be suspended. Chronic patients who have scheduled appointments are advised to attend the Shau Kei Wan Jockey Club General Out-patient Clinic (Address: 1/F, 8 Chai Wan Road, Shau Kei Wan). 
      
     Patients whose telephone booking appointments being affected need to make new appointment. HA apologises for the inconvenience caused to the patients concerned. 

     Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

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

     At around 6pm today (February 29), protestors started to gather outside Mong Kok Police Station and occupy Nathan Road and Prince Edward Road West, paralysing traffic. Some protestors pointed laser beams and hurled petrol bombs at police officers. They also built barricades and set fire on roads, posing threat to public safety.

     Report room services of the Mong Kok Police Station have been suspended. Police warn the protestors not to obstruct the emergency vehicle access so as to avoid affecting the emergency services.

     Police appeal everyone at scene to leave immediately and not to charge Police cordon line. Members of the public are advised to avoid travelling to the area concerned.

     The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department today (February 29) announced that its public services will resume normal operation gradually from next Monday (March 2).

     The licensing services counters at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices and the Marine Parks Office at CDW Building, 388 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, will resume normal operation. The provision of anti-rabies dog inoculations and dog licensing services conducted by the Animal Management Centres under the AFCD, and Anti-Rabies Dog Inoculation and Licensing Centres will also resume normal operation.

     Special arrangements and precautionary measures will be implemented, including body temperature check at building entrances and advising staff and visitors with high body temperature not to enter, and access control to avoid overcrowding.

     Meanwhile, to achieve social distancing and prevent crowding, the AFCD appeals to the public to use the above counter services only when in urgent need. Members of the public are encouraged to handle their licence or permit applications through email, post or fax. Relevant documents can also be put in the drop-in box at the ground floor of Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices. For detailed information and contacts, please refer to the AFCD website: www.afcd.gov.hk.

     AFCD public facilities which were temporarily closed will be reopened except some indoor facilities and play areas in the Hong Kong Wetland Park，Tai Po Geoheritage Centre and Kau Sai Village Story Room. School and public programmes will remain cancelled until further notice.

     For enquiries, please call the AFCD on 2708 8885.