The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will launch the first round of an eight-week anti-rodent operation in designated target areas in various districts next Monday (May 3) to sustain the effectiveness of rodent prevention and control work at the district level and raise public awareness of rodent prevention and control.

     An FEHD spokesman said, "In view of the fruitful results of the previous anti-rodent operations in designated target areas, the FEHD will continue to conduct two rounds of the operations this year. FEHD staff will enhance street cleaning services and cleaning of public markets and hawker bazaars in the target areas, including sweeping and cleaning of streets and rear lanes, emptying and cleaning of litter containers, and clearance of miscellaneous articles and waste in public markets and hawker bazaars, so as to keep the environment clean."

     Each District Environmental Hygiene Office of the FEHD, taking into account factors including rodent infestation rates, the number of rodent complaints received, views of the local community, the number of food premises and "three-nil" buildings, will identify target areas in each district and continue to adopt multi-pronged strategies including improving environmental hygiene and stepping up rodent disinfestation and enforcement actions, for carrying out targeted rodent prevent and control work.
          
     "We will also strengthen rodent prevention and control work at problematic spots such as rear lanes, refuse collection points, markets, hawker bazaars, cooked food markets and peripheral areas of construction sites by placing poisonous baits and traps, destroying rat holes and implementing rodent-proofing measures," the spokesman added.

     "Furthermore, inspections of food premises will be stepped up. Enforcement actions against food premises causing poor environmental hygiene conditions, scullery and conducting food preparation at rear lanes, and improper handling and disposal of rubbish will be strengthened. We will also adopt a zero-tolerance approach against common public cleanliness offences and take stringent enforcement actions against illegal disposal of refuse and waste."

     The FEHD will also strengthen public education and publicity on rodent prevention and control. Apart from the broadcast of TV and radio Announcements in the Public Interest and display of posters on public transport facilities, the FEHD will collaborate with District Councils and District Offices of the Home Affairs Department to organise anti-rodent promotional activities. The department will also arrange health talks for building management offices of private buildings, persons-in-charge of food premises, and market and hawker stall operators to provide information and technical advice on rodent prevention and control.

     The spokesman appealed to the community for active participation in the anti-rodent activities as well as joint efforts to eliminate the three fundamental survival conditions of rodents, namely food, harbourage and passages, i.e. the elimination of the food sources and hiding places of rodents as well as blockage of their dispersal routes, so as to combat the rodent problem.

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) announced today (April 30) that in view of the recent drop in service demand from persons under compulsory home quarantine, the operational arrangement of the 37 HAD hotlines for persons under home quarantine will be adjusted.

     With effect from next Monday (May 3), the 36 district hotlines will cease to operate, while the hotline 2835 1473 will continue to provide support services for persons under home quarantine. The operating hours of the hotline are from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (except public holidays). 

     The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) announced today (April 30) that the service contracts for the operation of "District Health Centre (DHC) Express" in 11 districts (namely Central and Western District, Wan Chai District, Eastern District, Yau Tsim Mong District, Kowloon City District, Kwun Tong District, North District, Tai Po District, Sai Kung District, Sha Tin District and Islands District) have been awarded to the following non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through an invitation for proposals. A total sum of $596 million in non-recurrent expenditure will be involved in the implementation of "DHC Express" in the 11 districts over three years.
 

  
     "DHC Express" will provide prevention-focused primary healthcare services on different levels, including health promotion and education, health risk factor assessment and chronic disease management. Apart from serving as a district health resource hub that links different service providers of various aspects of primary healthcare services in the community, "DHC Express" will also leverage on a private healthcare network in the community to enable members of the public to receive the necessary care and services when needed.
      
     Operators of "DHC Express" are required to identify suitable premises for a core centre as their primary service site. "DHC Express" in the various districts is targeted to commence services in the fourth quarter this year.
      
     The Government is funding NGOs to provide focused primary healthcare services in an interim arrangement in the above 11 districts, with a view to laying a foundation for the establishment of a prevention-focused primary healthcare system. The Government is working in parallel to take forward the works projects for the permanent sites of District Health Centres (DHCs) in all districts. Services of "DHC Express" will be migrated as appropriate to the DHCs of the respective districts in due course. 

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 30) that due to an insufficient number of lifeguards on duty, Island East Swimming Pool in Eastern District has been temporarily closed until further notice to ensure the safety of swimmers.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health announced that as of 0.00am, April 30, the CHP was investigating four additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 11 775 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 11 774 confirmed cases and one probable case).
 
     Among the newly reported cases announced, two are imported cases and one is a local case with unknown sources, while the remaining one case is epidemiologically linked with a local case.
   
     The local case with unknown sources involves a 39-year-old woman (case number: 11773) who developed cough on April 23. She attended a private medical practitioner on April 26. She underwent testing at a Community Testing Centre on April 27 and tested positive. She is a foreign domestic helper.
 
     As the case involves the N501Y mutant strain, the CHP carried out prudent measures on infection control to stop the potential risk of spread of the N501Y mutant strain. Compulsory quarantine for asymptomatic residents was arranged last night for units on all floors of the building (involving about 400 units) where the patient resided (Tower 11, Carmel Cove, Caribbean Coast, 1 Kin Tung Road, Tung Chung). They will undergo compulsory quarantine for 21 days. Also, the CHP urged the household contacts of the close contacts to do testing as soon as possible and stay at home until the close contacts test negative.  
 
     Meanwhile, the five premises that the positive case 11773 had patronised were included in the compulsory testing notice, and people who have stayed there are required to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the compulsory testing notice.
 
     A total of 152 cases have been recorded in the past 14 days (April 16 to 29), including 33 local cases (including one possibly local) of which 15 are from unknown sources.
 
     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the list of buildings with confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and the latest local situation of COVID-19 available on the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
 
     Meanwhile, the CHP reminded those who had visited specified venues under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to receive COVID-19 nucleic acid testing according to the compulsory testing notice. The Regulation also requires all household members of close contacts of confirmed cases to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test within a specified period according to compulsory testing notices published in the Gazette. The public are also urged to seek medical attention early if symptoms develop and undergo testing as soon as possible.
 
     The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).
 
     The CHP called on members of the public to avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. They should put on a surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out. The CHP strongly urged the elderly to stay home as far as possible and avoid going out. They should consider asking their family and friends to help with everyday tasks such as shopping for basic necessities.
 
     The spokesman said, "Given that the situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and that there is a continuous increase in the number of cases reported around the world, members of the public are strongly urged to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong.
 
     "The CHP also strongly urges 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. On a 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.
 
     "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."
 
     Moreover, the Government has launched the website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public understand the latest updates. Members of the public may also gain access to information via the COVID-19 WhatsApp Helpline launched by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Simply by saving 9617 1823 in their phone contacts or clicking the link wa.me/85296171823?text=hi, they will be able to obtain information on COVID-19 as well as the "StayHomeSafe" mobile app and wristband via WhatsApp.
 
     To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infections, 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 performing 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 doorknobs, 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 litre of water into each drain outlet (U-trap) 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.