Tag Archives: China

     The local COVID-19 epidemic situation is worsening rapidly. The confirmed cases are distributed all over the territory. Some of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic and this indicates the existence of many silent transmission chains in the community.
      
     The Government is very concerned about a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reported recently at Lam Tai House of Lam Tin Estate, Fu Yan House of Fu Shan Estate, and Shek Wing House of Shek Lei (II) Estate. Starting from today (December 21), the Government has arranged for testing agencies to set up mobile specimen collection stations at the following locations to provide free testing service for respective residents and workers:
 

New mobile specimen collection station	Operating hours of first day (December 21)
Lam Tin Estate Plaza (next to Lam Bik House) (Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Centre Limited)	10am to 8pm
Podium of Fu Shan Estate (BGI)	1pm to 8pm
Shek Lei Community Hall (ONCO Medical Laboratory Limited)	noon to 8pm

 
     With effect from tomorrow (December 22), operating hours of all the abovementioned mobile specimen collection stations are standardised from 10am to 8pm, and they will tentatively operate until December 26 (Saturday). The Government will decide whether it is necessary to extend the operation period of the stations after reviewing their usage and public’s demand for the testing service.      
 
     Separately, as there are several COVID-19 confirmed cases in Yat Lai House of Yau Lai Estate, the Community Testing Centre in Yau Tong Community Hall extends free testing service to residents and workers of Yau Lai Estate from today (December 21) to December 26 (Saturday) tentatively. Its operating hours are daily from 8am to 1:30pm and 2:30pm to 8pm. It provides booking as well as on-site registration services.  Members of the public are only required to input simple personal information, and select the testing centre and time slot in the 24-hour appointment booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk). The centre accords priority to those who make bookings in advance.

     After reviewing the usage and public’s demand for the testing service, the Government has decided to extend the service periods of the mobile specimen collection stations at Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po, Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin Square, Tung Chung North Park and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground to December 25 (Friday). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are at Annex.
      
     A Government spokesman said, “The testing agencies will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations for testing free of charge. Persons who are subject to compulsory testing and undergo testing at the mobile specimen collection stations will be deemed to have undergone a test at a Community Testing Centre. The mobile specimen collection stations will accord priority to provide testing service for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing.”
      
     People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.

     The spokesman urged all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases) to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons. read more

     â€‹Hongkong Post today (December 21) announced that owing to the suspension of flights, all airmail services (including Speedpost service) to the United Kingdom will be suspended with effect from December 22 until further … read more

     As the situation of COVID-19 remains severe, the Government needs to continue to take stringent measures to cope with the epidemic. The Education Bureau (EDB) announced today (December 21) that all kindergartens as well as primary and secondary schools (including special schools and schools offering non-local curriculum) would further suspend face-to-face classes and school activities after their scheduled Christmas holidays until January 10, 2021. During the period, private schools offering non-formal curriculum (commonly known as “tutorial schools”) will also suspend face-to-face classes and school activities of all levels.
 
     A spokesman for the EDB said, “During the period of suspension of face-to-face classes and school activities, schools should continue to adopt diversified modes of teaching to facilitate students to continue learning at home. Similar to the arrangements before the Christmas holidays, schools can consider arranging Primary Six students to return to schools on a need basis to take the internal assessment for the purpose of Secondary School Places Allocation, and arranging Secondary Six classes or classes participating in this academic year’s overseas public examinations to return to schools to attend lessons to prepare for the examinations or take internal examinations at schools. The examinations or face-to-face classes should be conducted on a half-day basis. The upper limit for students to return to a school for face-to-face classes and examinations should be capped at one-sixth of the school’s maximum permitted capacity.
 
     “Moreover, after the scheduled school Christmas holidays, schools should remain open to take care of those students who have to go back to schools because of the lack of carers at home. Schools should also arrange staff to be on duty to handle school affairs, answer parents’ enquiries and take care of those students who have returned to schools. In this regard, schools should put in place all health protection measures and ensure the environmental hygiene of the school premises. We will issue a letter to inform schools of the details so that schools can make advance preparation.”
 
     In view of the severity of the epidemic, the EDB spokesman strongly appealed to school staff and students that they should avoid going out, having crowd gatherings and social contacts as well as dining out during the Christmas holidays. Parents should take precautionary measures for COVID-19 as well as pay close attention to the health conditions of their children.  Students should maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, and take adequate rest in order to strengthen their immunity. If students are feeling unwell (even if the symptoms are very mild), they should seek medical advice promptly to receive appropriate diagnoses and treatments. read more

     Police welcome the judgement made by the Court of First Instance today (December 21) which dismissed the judicial review (JR) lodged by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA).      It was … read more

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the Guangzhou Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (HRSSGZ) today (December 21) signed a memorandum of co-operation (MoC) to further deepen collaboration o… read more