Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations: Please broadcast the following message as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals: Around 10pm today (February 8), rioters occupied roads and buil… read more
Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session with the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Edward Yau; the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee, and the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (February 8):
Reporter: Today, how many people arrived Hong Kong from the Mainland and are they all in quarantine? What does the 161 mean?
Chief Executive: I’ll try to explain the figures in English. At the moment, Hong Kong has only three control points still in operation. They are the Hong Kong International Airport, the Shenzhen Bay as well as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. The Hong Kong International Airport, as you know, serves mostly international passengers. Actually, today’s arrival, over 90 per cent are arrivals at the airport. This figure of 8,953 – total arrivals as at 4pm today, of the 8,953 as I just mentioned, over 90 per cent were arrivals at the airport, and arrivals at the airport very often will not be caught by the new regulation because they are not passengers arriving from the Mainland. But if those arrivals from international flights are passengers who have been in the Mainland for the past 14 days, they will still be caught by the new regulation. I just want to explain the legal basis.
Coming back to the two land-based border control points, logically one would think since they are land-based so they are connected to the Mainland. The total arrivals are 807. The breakdown is like this: 125 from the Shenzhen Bay Control Point; 682 from the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. A further breakdown will show you that of the arrivals through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, many of them were Macao residents or Hong Kong people returning from Macao, and again, they are not caught by the regulation because they are arrivals from Macao. As a result of all these things, those who are subject to the mandatory quarantine order as at today’s 4pm are 161 arrivals.
Reporter: Sorry, but then I understand the two land border crossings, but out of all of the 90 per cent of arrivals at the airport, it means very few of them are in any quarantine.
Chief Executive: If they are not subject to the public health concerns, I have no basis to put them onto the quarantine.
Reporter: So if they arrive from Mainland China, is it, my understanding of the new regulations as of midnight Friday, if they arrive from Mainland China by any of these arrival methods, then they should be quarantined?
Chief Executive: Yes, definitely. All passengers from Mainland flights arriving Hong Kong airport and coming into Hong Kong – in other words they are landing in Hong Kong, they are not just transit – they will be subject to the quarantine order. But the numbers are very small. I am sure you may notice there was one flight from Beijing with only one passenger on board, so the number is very small. But there are arrivals from the Mainland who are not necessarily Mainlanders, they could be overseas travellers arriving from the Mainland who just want to transit at the Hong Kong International Airport.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.) read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 8) said that as some Mainland travellers who took the World Dream cruise were earlier confirmed to have infected with the novel coronavirus, tests on novel coronavirus will be conducted on all crew members of the cruise ship to safeguard passengers on board. The tests would be completed in about four days.
A spokesman for the CHP stressed, “The health of passengers and the general public of Hong Kong is our utmost priority in making the quarantine arrangement and hence the prudent measures adopted. We fully understand the inconvenience caused by the arrangements and hope to have the understanding and co-operation of those affected in fighting against the spread of the infection together.”
Personnel of the Port Health Division have earlier taken specimens from symptomatic crew members and passengers for test on novel coronavirus, with all the results being negative. However, as some crew members might have direct contact with the passengers confirmed with novel coronavirus infection (i.e. passengers who disembarked from the cruise at Nansha on January 24), upon relevant experts’ advice, we have decided to conduct tests on novel coronavirus for 1 800 odd crew members on board. The aim is to exclude that they are infected and thus will not cause health threats to passengers.
Personnel of the Port Health Division have been collecting specimens from crew members for the testing since today. Owing to the vast number of crew members, it is expected that the test of crew members would be completed in about four days (i.e. February 11). Before the results are available, all people will be required to remain on the cruise ship.
This morning, the Food and Health Bureau, the DH and other relevant government departments had met with representatives from the cruise company to discuss the arrangement on board for the following four days. The cruise company will continue to provide assistance and facilitate Government’s measures of disease prevention and control, as well as providing daily necessities to passengers. The medical needs of passengers will be attended to and delivery of medication to patients will be arranged, particularly to those with imminent needs. For patients with appointment with the Hospital Authority in the next few days, they may contact relevant clinics to reschedule their appointment. The Home Affairs Department has also established a 24 hour hotline (Kowloon City District Office: 2621 3400 or Kwun Tong District Office: 2756 0665) to provide assistance.
The spokesman urged, “Passengers are reminded to observe personal hygiene at all times, and that hand hygiene should be performed frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; before eating; after going to toilets; after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing. It is advised to 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. Gathering should be avoided and a surgical mask should be worn when staying in crowded places.”
The CHP again appealed to members of the public who took the cruise since January 19 to call the CHP’s hotline 2125 1122 which operates from 8am to midnight daily. read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 8pm today (February 8), no new case of novel coronavirus infection is recorded and the number of confirmed cases so far in Hong Kong remained at 26.
A spokesman for the CHP said, “According to our preliminary epidemiological investigations, some of the confirmed cases are locally infected. 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.”
The spokesman said, “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. The public should go out less and reduce social activities, and maintain appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible.”
“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’s epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. The CHP is also closely monitoring and following up on the contact tracing of relevant confirmed cases in the Mainland and overseas. 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.
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 8 235 calls were received.
A dedicated webpage (www.gov.hk/ncv) has been set up by the CHP. Information including the latest local situation, list of buildings and list of flights/trains/ships relevant to the confirmed cases, countries/areas with reported cases as well as health advice and a “Novel Coronavirus Infection Local Situation Interactive Map Dashboard” are available on the webpage to help the public grasp the latest updates.
The spokesman said, “The CHP will continue to maintain its liaison with the National Health Commission, World Health Organization and the relevant health authorities, and closely monitor the situation for risk assessment.”
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 where community transmission of novel coronavirus is occurring;
• Avoid close contact with persons with fever or respiratory symptoms in countries/areas with possible community transmission of novel coronavirus infection. 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. read more
In relation to a mandatory quarantine on all people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland, the Government appeals to employers to work out necessary arrangements in consultation with their employees working across the border.
​With effect from today (February 8), the Government issues quarantine orders to all people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland, including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and visitors from other places. People concerned shall stay at home or other accommodation for a 14-day compulsory quarantine. For those entering Hong Kong via other places, if they have been to the Mainland in the past 14 days preceding arrival at Hong Kong, mandatory quarantine will still be applicable upon their arrival. To ensure that freight between Hong Kong and the Mainland would not be affected, the Government will exempt people in the relevant businesses and work who need to frequent between the two places from the mandatory quarantine. The Department of Health (DH) will arrange medical surveillance for persons under the exempted categories in the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation during their stay in Hong Kong.
Where an employee has contracted a disease, the employer should grant that employee sick leave in accordance with the requirements under the Employment Ordinance or the relevant employment contract. If an employee is required or ordered by a Health Officer to be put under quarantine, he will be issued a medical certificate. We encourage employers to be considerate and show understanding to such employees’ situation and make flexible arrangements, including where practicable allowing employees to work from home or granting paid leave to them. This will help maintain good labour-management relations and protect the health of all the employees as well as the community. For enquiries on employment rights and benefits, please call the Labour Department’s 24-hour enquiry hotline at 2717 1771 (the hotline is manned by 1823). read more