The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (March 20) investigating an outbreak of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) at a kindergarten-cum-child care centre in Wong Tai Sin, and appeals to members of the public and staff of institutions to stay alert and maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene.

     The outbreak involves 21 students, comprising nine males and 12 females aged 2 to 5. They developed symptoms since March 5. Eleven of them sought medical attention. One of which required hospitalisation, having tested positive for respiratory syncytial virus, and was discharged following treatment. All are in stable condition with negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test results.

     The CHP has provided preventive advice against URTI to the kindergarten-cum-child care centre, such as advising the school to arrange cleaning and disinfection, to open windows where appropriate for better ventilation and to separate affected students from other students, etc. The school has been placed under medical surveillance.

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene against influenza and other respiratory illnesses, and note the following:
 

• Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
• Surgical masks can prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask;
• For high risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised), wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;
• Avoid touching one's eyes, mouth and nose;
• 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;
• Cover the nose and mouth with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
• Maintain good indoor ventilation;
• When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending classes at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and
• Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     â€‹Members of the public, particularly children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases, should consult a doctor promptly if they develop symptoms of respiratory tract infection.

     A woman who went missing in Tuen Mun has been located.

     Lee Wing-tung, aged 30, went missing after she was last seen at MTR Tuen Mun Station on February 10. Her family made a report to Police on the next day.

     The woman was located in Yau Oi Estate, Castle Peak this afternoon (March 20). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     In response to media reports on the internship arrangements in public hospitals for physiotherapy and occupational therapy students, the Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman made the following clarification today (March 20):

     The HA clarified that public hospitals have never provided clinical internship subsidies to physiotherapy and occupational therapy students. Therefore, it is untrue to report that the HA will stop providing such subsidies.

     The HA reiterated that public hospitals will not adjust the arrangements for providing internship opportunities and quotas for physiotherapy and occupational therapy students. The arrangements concerned will not affect the prevailing manpower and financial arrangements.

     At present, tertiary institutions will arrange internship training in public hospitals for students of healthcare-related programmes including physiotherapy and occupational therapy students. The HA will deploy additional manpower and resources to supervise and assist the students.

     The HA emphasised that public hospitals will continue to co-operate with tertiary institutions and relevant professional organisations to enhance the training of healthcare professionals to serve patients. The HA has been supporting and co-operating with different tertiary institutions in training healthcare professionals while providing internship opportunities in public hospitals for students of healthcare-related programmes so that they can gain enough clinical experience and meet the internship requirements for professional registration.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (March 20) alerted members of the public to fraudulent SMS message purportedly issued by HKeToll. The SMS message provides a hyperlink to a fake HKeToll website, which seeks to obtain the recipient's credit card information.
 
     The TD solemnly clarifies that the SMS message was not issued by HKeToll. The department has referred the case to the Hong Kong Police Force for further investigation.
 
     Anyone who has provided his or her personal information to the website concerned should contact the Police. For enquiries, please call the HKeToll hotline at 3853 7333.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     A spokesman for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following appeal today (March 20) regarding a patient who left the hospital without notifying hospital staff:

     A 65-year-old male patient left a neurosurgery ward of TMH without notifying hospital staff at around 3pm today.

     Security guards conducted searching in the hospital and the vicinity area immediately but in vain. TMH is very concerned about the incident and has immediately informed the patient's family and reported to the Police. The hospital will co-operate with the Police for the search.

     The patient is about 1.6 metres tall, medium-built, with short gray hair. He was wearing gray long-sleeved clothes, jeans, with a black shoulder bag, and a red-and-white striped bag when leaving the hospital.

     The hospital appeals to the public to contact Tuen Mun Police Station at 3661 5800 or call 999 if they know the whereabouts of the patient.