The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (February 26), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 57 patients (26 male and 31 female, aged one to 93) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of COVID-19. Appropriate tests have been arranged for the patients.
 
     There are 124 patients under isolation currently. So far, 24 patients with the COVID-19 infection have been discharged upon recovery.
 
     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service (BTS) has established policies to ensure blood safety. The BTS regularly reviews the blood donation arrangement for prospective donors who have returned from areas with potential risks of infectious diseases. In response to the latest developments in COVID-19, the spokesperson for the BTS today (February 26) announced the following precautionary measure to be implemented with immediate effect.
 

• Members of the public who have recently visited Korea should defer blood donation for 28 days from the date of departure.

 
     Meanwhile, the measures stated below continue to remain in effect:
 

• Members of the public who have recently visited the Mainland should defer blood donation for 28 days from the date of departure;
• Members of the public who had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 while that patient was symptomatic should defer blood donation for 28 days;
• Members of the public with confirmed COVID-19 infection will be deferred for 180 days after complete recovery

     The above arrangements have been made with careful assessment and thorough consideration of associated risks on blood safety by the Hospital Authority (BTS) Expert Panel on Blood and Blood Products Safety. The Expert Panel will remain vigilant and work closely with relevant departments to monitor the latest developments and to review related measures in a timely manner. Meanwhile, all blood donors are reminded that if they develop the symptoms of fever, respiratory tract infection or pneumonia after blood donation, they should seek medical advice and inform the healthcare staff of the BTS (during office hours: 2710 1201/2710 1243/2710 1298; outside office hours: 2710 1210/2710 1234) as soon as possible.

     The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (February 26) the "Report on the Survey on Information Technology Usage and Penetration in the Business Sector for 2019".
 
     The publication contains findings of the Survey on Information Technology Usage and Penetration in the Business Sector for 2019 conducted during March to December 2019. The survey collected information on various topics, including business use of computers and the Internet, web presence of business, electronic commerce and electronic business, information technology security and business use of information and communication technology.
 
     Findings of the survey revealed that 81% and 90% of the establishments in the business sector used computers and the Internet respectively in 2019. The proportions of establishments using computers and the Internet were relatively higher for large and medium establishments than small establishments. About 38% of the establishments had a web presence in 2019. The proportion of establishments with a web presence was the highest in the information and communications sector and lowest in the construction sector.
 
     Detailed findings of the survey, together with survey methodology and definitions of key terms, are presented in the publication. Users can download the publication free of charge at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/hkstat/sub/sp120.jsp?productCode=B1110005).
 
     Enquiries about the publication can be directed to the Science and Technology Statistics Section of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 7291 or email: itsurvey@censtatd.gov.hk).

     A spokesman for the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau announced today (February 26) the registration arrangement for Hong Kong residents who wish to take the first batch of chartered flights from Hubei back to Hong Kong. The first batch of chartered flights will mainly assist Hong Kong residents currently stranded in Wuhan to return to Hong Kong. The costs will be borne by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government. The Wuhan Economic and Trade Office of the HKSAR Government (Wuhan ETO) will arrange transportation for Hong Kong residents to go to the airport in Wuhan.

     For Hong Kong residents who are now in Wuhan and have not previously contacted the Assistance to Hong Kong Residents Unit of the Immigration Department (AHU) or the Wuhan ETO, if they wish to return to Hong Kong they may call the (852) 1868 hotline or contact the AHU through email at 1868@immd.gov.hk for registration before 6pm on February 28. Please provide the contact person's name, telephone number and current address during registration for contact and follow-up by the AHU.

     The spokesman emphasised that Hong Kong residents currently in Wuhan who have earlier sought assistance from the AHU or the Wuhan ETO need not register again by calling the (852) 1868 hotline or through email. AHU officers have been notifying the relevant Hong Kong residents by text messages, and will contact them by phone to confirm their registration, including assisting them to fill in the health assessment form of the Department of Health.

     The spokesman said, "All people taking the chartered flights to return to Hong Kong must be Hong Kong identity card holders. In order to reduce the risk of cross-infection during the return journey, Hong Kong residents who develop fever, respiratory tract symptoms or other signs of infectious diseases are not suitable to board the chartered flights. Health screenings will be conducted for each passenger before boarding. Those with fever, abnormal vital signs, respiratory tract symptoms or other signs of infectious diseases will not be allowed to board the plane.

     "While the HKSAR Government will take measures to minimise the risk of cross-infection among Hong Kong residents during the return journey, it will be unavoidable for them to travel from their current residential places in Wuhan to the local airport, and to take the flights back to Hong Kong in groups. Therefore, Hong Kong residents who wish to take the chartered flights should be aware of the potential risks and consider their health condition in deciding whether they are fit for travel.

     "Taking into consideration the potential public health risk, the people concerned will be arranged to stay at a quarantine centre for 14 days upon their arrival in Hong Kong."

     For Hong Kong residents currently in other areas of Hubei (that is, areas outside Wuhan), there are individual cases which have relatively urgent needs, such as pregnant women, those who suffer from serious illnesses and are urgently in need of surgery or other medical treatments (such as chemotherapy and electrotherapy) in Hong Kong, and secondary school graduates who need to sit for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination in Hong Kong. The HKSAR Government will discuss with the Hubei Provincial Government and relevant local departments with an aim to arrange for them to take the first batch of chartered flights to Hong Kong, as well as seek medical advice on whether they are fit for travel.

     As for Hong Kong residents who are now in other areas of Hubei without urgent needs, the HKSAR Government will further discuss with the Hubei Provincial Government and make arrangements for them to return to Hong Kong in stages. The spokesman appealed to them not to call the (852) 1868 hotline or make enquiries through email at this stage. The HKSAR Government will make a further announcement on the arrangement as soon as it is available.

     After obtaining the number of assistance cases, the HKSAR Government will consider all factors including the operational details and the arrangement for receiving cases by quarantine facilities in working out the number of chartered flights and passengers to be carried by the first batch of flights as far as practicable.

     As at 11am today, the HKSAR Government received over 1 700 requests for assistance by Hong Kong people in Hubei, involving more than 3 000 Hong Kong residents scattered in 37 cities in the province, among which 532 are in Wuhan.

     Hongkong Post announced today (February 26) that, as advised by the postal administration of France, mail delivery services to Martinique in the French West Indies, which were subject to delay earlier due to the influence of a large-scale strike across the area, have now returned to normal.