Police today (December 30) reclassified a theft and wounding case in Yuen Long on December 28 as theft and murder. At about 9.50pm on December 28, Police received a report from a passerby t… read more
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 30) investigating a case of severe paediatric influenza A infection and reminded the community to heighten vigilance against influenza.
The case involves a 18-month-old baby boy with good past health, who has presented with fever, cough, runny nose and vomiting since December 28. He was taken to the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital for medical advice on December 29 and was admitted for treatment. He was transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at Queen Mary Hospital on the next day for further management.
His respiratory specimen tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with encephalopathy. He is now in critical condition.
Initial enquiries revealed that the patient had received a seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) for this season and had no travel history during the incubation period. His home contacts have remained asymptomatic so far.
The CHP’s investigations are ongoing.
A spokesman for the CHP said, “The latest surveillance data showed that the overall local seasonal influenza activity has been increasing gradually in the past two weeks, and the winter influenza season might arrive soon. Members of the public aged six months or above who have not yet received influenza vaccination, particularly children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses, are advised to receive an SIV as early as possible to better protect themselves in the coming winter influenza season against influenza A and B infections. It takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination.”
The 2019/20 seasonal influenza vaccination programmes, including the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme and the Government Vaccination Programme, have been launched. As well, the SIV school outreach has been regularised to allow all primary schools to join, and has been extended to kindergartens, child care centres and kindergarten-cum-child care centres as a pilot.
“Influenza can cause serious illnesses in high-risk individuals and even healthy persons. Given that influenza vaccines are safe and effective, all persons aged six months or above, except those with known contraindications, are recommended to receive an SIV for personal protection. Vaccinations among family members is key to protecting their personal and family health,” the spokesman said.
The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
• Receive an SIV for personal protection;
• Wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated;
• When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub as an effective alternative;
• Wash or clean hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, or after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs;
• Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
• Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• Avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.
The public may visit the CHP’s influenza page and weekly Flu Express for more information. read more
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the Transport Department (TD) today (December 30) to learn more about the measures and recovery work taken by the two departments in response to the protests and vandalistic acts in recent months. She also expressed her gratitude to colleagues for their dedication to duty and concerted efforts to maintain the operation of Hong Kong during the current serious situation.
Accompanied by the Acting Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Pang Yiu-hung, Mrs Lam visited a traffic light workshop and the Customer Service Centre. Since June, approximately 750 sets of signalised junctions across the city have been vandalised more than 1 400 times. To enable the speedy recovery of the damaged traffic lights before the morning peak hours, the EMSD deployed additional experienced manpower from various units to the recovery team, increasing the number of staff from about 80 to 160 during peak repair periods. As at today, all damaged traffic lights have resumed operation.
Mrs Lam noted that the EMSD also works closely with various government departments and suppliers to substantially shorten the overall time required for parts procurement, delivery and on-site repair works. The team has also proactively conceived, tested and implemented various designs to enhance the protection of the traffic lights and their controllers.
Mrs Lam then visited the TD to keep abreast of the department’s work on monitoring and handling traffic and transport emergency incidents, and to note the progress in taking forward measures to enhance the operational safety of franchised buses.
Accompanied by the Commissioner for Transport, Ms Mable Chan, Mrs Lam was briefed on how the department co-ordinates with various government departments and public transport operators to handle traffic incidents swiftly to enable the resumption of traffic and public transport services as soon as possible. In particular, she was briefed on the department’s contingency measures to steer and co-ordinate public transport during the closure of the Cross-Harbour Tunnel last month including the provision of special ferry services, re-routing of cross-harbour bus routes and the co-ordination of relevant government departments and public transport operators to implement repair works properly and prepare for the re-opening.
Mrs Lam also received a briefing on initiatives to enhance franchised bus safety including supervising franchised bus operators to install safety seat belts in all seats on new buses and retrofit seat belts in all seats on the upper decks of existing double-decker buses. Together with the newly procured double-decker buses, there will be more than 3 000 buses equipped with seat belts in 2022, and they will be deployed with priorities for long-haul routes operated via expressways with relatively fewer bus stops. Mrs Lam then toured the Commute with “Ease” Roving Exhibition which showcases how the department leverages innovation and technology to promote smart mobility, enhance road safety and transport efficiency.
Mrs Lam said that during the social unrest, which has persisted for more than six months, wanton vandalism by rioters on transport facilities gravely affected people’s commutes. Taking traffic lights as an example, over the past few months, more than 5 000 lamps and 100 controllers have been replaced. The amount of parts used would be adequate for 10 years under normal situations and the estimated additional recovery cost has exceeded $30 million.
“In fact, every Government department is affected by the social unrest to different degrees. Colleagues are required to allocate resources effectively, deploy manpower flexibly, enhance communication with various departments and walk an extra mile to respond to different situations proactively with new thinking. I express gratitude to colleagues who have been standing fast at their posts during the past months, working together to minimise the impacts of the protests and vandalistic acts on the public, while striving to maintain effective public services,” Mrs Lam said.
The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) today (December 30) invites tenders from non-public entities to provide services for the operation of the Sham Shui Po District Health Centre (DHC) and Wong Tai Sin DHC.
The successful tenderers of the Sham Shui Po and Wong Tai Sin DHCs (i.e. the future operators of the DHCs), upon being awarded the two service contracts, will have a gearing up period of up to 10 months for the targeted commissioning of the two DHCs and associated service networks in 2021 and 2022 respectively, for operation for a three-year period.
To change the focus of the present healthcare system from treatment-oriented to prevention-oriented, the Government is enhancing district-based primary healthcare services by setting up DHCs in all 18 districts. The first DHC in Kwai Tsing District has already commenced operation in September 2019.
Being a key component of the public healthcare system, the DHC is a district primary healthcare hub comprising a core centre, supplemented by sub-district satellite centres and a network of private medical and healthcare practitioners providing multiple access and service points. Apart from service delivery, the DHC will co-ordinate with community partners providing social welfare and healthcare services in the district, and make referrals as necessary.
Government-subsidised primary healthcare services, including health promotion, health assessment, chronic disease management and community rehabilitation, will be provided by the operators of the DHCs through medical-social collaboration and public-private partnership to enhance the public’s capability in self-management of health and provide support for the chronically ill in the community.
The basic services to be operated by the DHCs are set out in the tender documents. The charges which the operators may impose on DHC clients cannot exceed the prescribed ceilings set out in the respective tender documents.
The two tender notices are available on the FHB website (www.fhb.gov.hk/en/tender/). A briefing session will be arranged for interested bidders on January 23, 2020 (Thursday). Details are set out in the tender documents.
Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Secretariat Tender Box, located in the lobby of the Public Entrance on the Ground Floor, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong, before noon on February 28, 2020 (Friday). Late tenders will not be accepted. read more
Following is the transcript of remarks at a media session by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Mr Frank Chan Fan, after attending a public event this afternoon (December 30): Reporter: Mr Chan, what do you make of th… read more