The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 7) said that the CHP's Port Health Division is continuing to carry out the health quarantine work on the World Dream cruise where some travellers from the Mainland were confirmed to have infected with the novel coronavirus.

     Personnel of the Port Health Division is following up on the health assessment of the crew members and passengers. For the respiratory samples taken from crew members and passengers earlier, all of them were tested negative for novel coronavirus. Meanwhile, one crew member reported to have developed respiratory symptoms this afternoon. Sample has been collected for testing of novel coronavirus and the result is pending.

     The CHP said that all passengers and crew members are required to stay on board prior to completion of the health quarantine work and permission by the DH.

     The CHP also urged 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.

     In view of the extension of the special work arrangement for Government departments until February 16 to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community, a spokesman for the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (February 7) appealed again to survey respondents to complete survey questionnaires using the Online Questionnaire System (OQS) or by calling the department for a telephone interview. Details on how to use the OQS and the enquiry telephone numbers of the surveys are provided in the invitation letters that had been sent to the sampled respondents by the C&SD.   
      
     Meanwhile, for those respondents whose telephone contacts are available to the C&SD, enumerators of the C&SD will contact them to conduct telephone interviews. For enquiries regarding the surveys or the identity of the enumerators, please contact the C&SD by telephone (2582 4798) or email (household_survey@censtatd.gov.hk).
 

     The Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (the Regulation) made under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Public Health Emergency) Regulation will take effect from 0.00am tomorrow (February 8) and the Chief Secretary for Administration may exempt any person or category of persons from the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement as prescribed under the Regulation. 

     In accordance with section 4(1) of the Regulation, the Chief Secretary for Administration has exempted the following categories of persons from the compulsory quarantine requirement with effect from the commencement of the Regulation:

1. cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers and necessary accompanying personnel;

2. cross-boundary coach and shuttle drivers and necessary crew members;

3. air crew disembarking from planes at Hong Kong International Airport and entering Hong Kong;

4. crew members of aircrafts of air freight operators who need to commute to and from the Mainland for performance of necessary duties related to freight forwarding;

5. government officials carrying out governmental duties;

6. government agents and contractors supporting the operation of cross-boundary functions;

7. crew members of goods vessels; and

8. crew members of fishing vessels and fish collectors (including mainland fishermen deckhands).

     The Department of Health (DH) will arrange medical surveillance for persons under the above exempted categories of persons during their stay in Hong Kong. Persons under medical surveillance are required to wear masks and check temperature daily for reporting to the DH. In addition, exempted persons are also subject to the temperature check and health declaration procedures carried out by the DH at various boundary control points during arrival and departure clearance.

     The Regulation was published in the Gazette today (February 7) to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus infection with resolute and stringent measures. With the exception of exempted persons, all persons having stayed in the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival, regardless of nationality and travel documents used, will be subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. It is a criminal offence to contravene the quarantine order and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment. 

     A government spokesman said that putting in place the Regulation could further reduce the flow of people between Hong Kong and the Mainland, minimising the risks for a spread of disease in Hong Kong. He stressed that there is no cause for public worries as the Regulation will not affect the freight between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

     The Public Works Tender Board announced today (February 7) that the closing time for tenders which should originally have been received through the Public Works Tender Box by noon on January 31 and February 7 will be extended until noon on February 14 (Friday). The Public Works Tender Box is located at 41/F of Queensway Government Offices at 66 Queensway, Hong Kong.
      
     For enquiries, please call 2867 4019 between 9am and 6pm from Monday to Friday.     

     To further prevent and control the spread of the novel coronavirus and to reduce the risk of the spread of the disease in the community, the Government has announced that the special work arrangement for government departments will be extended up to February 16 and a number of disease prevention and control measures have been implemented. A spokesperson from the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (February 7) announced the special arrangements for the welfare services subsidised by the SWD and its own services from February 10 to 16.
     
     Details of the special arrangements are as follows:

(1) All aided child care centres, day care centres for the elderly, sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres and day activity centres will suspend their service delivery. These centres will, however, remain open depending on the situation to serve those in special need. Individual service users who have the need for the services mentioned may contact the centres or service units concerned in advance.

(2) Apart from (a) and (j) which are provided as normal, the other services will be provided on a limited scale as stated below:

a. All residential care services;
b. Integrated Family Service Centres (only providing casework service);
c. Integrated Services Centres (only providing casework service);
d. Short-term Food Assistance Service;
e. Integrated Home Care Services (only providing meals, escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
f. Enhanced Home and Community Care Services (only providing meals, escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
g. Home Care Service for Persons with Severe Disabilities (only providing escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
h. Integrated Support Service for Persons with Severe Physical Disabilities (only providing escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
i. Visiting Medical Practitioner Service for Residential Care Homes;
j. Hotline services; and
k. Humanitarian Assistance for Non-refoulement Claimants.

(3) Centre-based services subsidised by the SWD, such as district elderly community centres, neighbourhood elderly centres, social and recreational centres for the disabled, integrated children and youth services centres, children and youth centres, community centres, etc. will not be open to the public to reduce the risk of infection arising from the gathering of people. These centres will, however, provide services on a limited scale (such as meal service provided by elderly centres, etc.). 

(4) For other services not covered by (1) to (3) above, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating them may decide whether to continue to provide them under their respective Funding and Service Agreements having regard to their circumstances.
 
     These arrangements should continue up to and including February 16, except for aided child care centres which will basically suspend their service delivery as stated above up to and including March 1. NGOs should keep their clients informed of their specific arrangements.
     
     Regarding the SWD's own services, while departmental hotline services and services of Tuen Mun Children and Juvenile Home will be in operation as normal, other services such as Integrated Family Service Centres, Family and Child Protective Services Units, Social Security Field Units, etc., will only be provided on a limited scale (e.g. groups and programmes, and extended hours service, will be suspended). To reduce the risk of infection arising from the gathering of people, service users are advised to contact the staff of the service units by telephone in advance, so that interviews can be scheduled as appropriate. Members of the public may call hotline number 2343 2255 for enquiries.