Hong Kong - Covid-19 cases - 4,902 cases, 99 deaths?

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020600534.htm

Surgical masks test-purchased by Hong Kong Customs comply with requirements of Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance
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Hong Kong Customs launched a large-scale territory-wide special operation codenamed "Guardian" on January 27 to conduct spot checks, test purchases and inspections in various districts on surgical masks available in the market. As at yesterday (February 5), over 6 000 inspections were conducted at retail spots selling surgical masks and more than 50 samples have been test-purchased. Safety tests on total fungal counts for 20 test-purchased samples have been conducted initially. All samples comply with safety requirements and no violations of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO) have yet been found yet. The remaining samples are still undergoing safety tests and the results will be announced as soon as possible.

The relevant samples were test-purchased from different retail spots in various districts, including chain stores, pharmacies, medicine stores and shops selling daily necessities. They were then sent to the Government Laboratory for tests. Of the 20 tested samples of surgical masks, 15 were in proper packaging and five were in loose packaging. Among those 15 samples of surgical masks, most were packed in 50-piece packages, while others were packed in packages of five, 10 and 20 pieces.

As at today (February 6), the "Guardian" operation has been underway for 11 days. During the operation, Customs officers seized 68 000 surgical masks with suspected false manufacturing date from a pharmacy in Mong Kok on January 30. An investigation of the case, including the sources of the seizure, is ongoing.

The "Guardian" operation will carry on. Customs will continue to inspect retail locations of surgical masks and conduct test-buy operations to ensure that the surgical masks being sold in the market comply with the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO) and the CGSO. Customs stresses that the department will continue to promptly issue update announcements if any irregularities are spotted.

Under the CGSO, it is an offence to import, manufacture or supply consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirements for consumer goods. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.

Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, or sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

Customs has all along attached great importance to public safety and consumer rights. Law enforcement action will be taken immediately if any violation of the TDO or the CGSO is detected.

Customs reminds traders not to sell products with false origins or false trademarks, or unsafe consumer goods. Members of the public should also make purchases at reputable shops.

Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO or the CGSO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).



Ends/Thursday, February 6, 2020
Issued at HKT 18:55

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/viral-h...aper-1.4799650

Viral hysteria: Hong Kong panic sparks run on toilet paper
Jerome Taylor AFP Published Thursday, February 6, 2020 7:12AM EST

Panic buyers in Hong Kong have descended on supermarkets to snap up toilet paper after false online claims of shortages, prompting authorities to appeal for calm as the city's seven million residents fret about a deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Videos obtained by AFP showed long queues of frantic shoppers packing trolleys with multiple packs of toilet rolls, with some arguments breaking out.

Rice and pasta have also become a popular target for panic buying...

[Shiloh]

Source: http://news.66wz.com/system/2020/02/06/105231844.shtml
Hong Kong's new coronavirus infection pneumonia increased to 22
Xinhuanet 2020-02-06 21:36:05
View comments

Xinhua News Agency, Hong Kong, February 6th (Reporter Fang Dong) On the 6th, Hong Kong added a new case of pneumonia confirmed by a new coronavirus infection. The total number of confirmed cases has now increased to 22.

竹 Zhang Zhujun, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Health Protection of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government introduced at the press conference that the new case was a 55-year-old woman and was the wife of the 21st case confirmed yesterday. The patient returned to Hong Kong from Dongguan where he worked on January 17, and traveled with her husband in Japan from January 28 to February 1. After returning to Hong Kong, they developed fever and other symptoms.

Zhang Zhujun said that at present, there are 6 family groups in all confirmed cases, which proves that the virus is easy to spread among family members.

Hong Kong currently has 1 death and 21 cases are being treated in isolation at Princess Margaret Hospital, 2 of which are in critical condition.

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020600674.htm CHP continues health quarantine work on World Dream cruise
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 6) 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 carrying out and following up the health assessment of the crew members and passengers. For the respiratory samples taken from 33 crew members yesterday, all of them were tested negative for novel coronavirus. Another crew member reported to have developed fever last night and was sent to hospital for treatment and testing of novel coronavirus.

Among the passengers, as at 8pm today, one who has developed fever was sent to the hospital for treatment and relevant testing while 8 reported to have mild respiratory symptoms. Samples were collected from those with symptoms for testing of novel coronavirus.

The CHP said that relevant investigations are ongoing. 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.




Ends/Thursday, February 6, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:54

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020600703.htm

CHP investigates three additional cases of novel coronavirus infection
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 8pm today (February 6), the CHP is investigating three additional cases of novel coronavirus infection, taking to 24 the number of confirmed cases so far in Hong Kong.

The first additional case involves a 55-year-old woman with good past health who is the wife of the patient of the 21st confirmed case. She developed sore throat since February 1 and then fever and diarrhoea since February 2. She consulted a private doctor on February 2 and sought treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) on February 4. She attended PMH again on the following day and was admitted for isolation and management. Her respiratory samples were tested positive for novel coronavirus. She is in stable condition.

The CHP has immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. According to the patient's information, she works in Dongguan and returns to Hong Kong and resides in Block 1, Villa Esplanada in Tsing Yi during weekends. She came back to Hong Kong from Dongguan on January 17, and visited Tokyo in Japan with her husband from January 28 to February 1, arriving Hong Kong on February 2. Quarantine will be arranged for her other home contacts, namely her parents-in-law and domestic helper, who are asymptomatic.

The patient took a flight from Hong Kong to Tokyo on January 28 and returned from Tokyo to Hong Kong on UO651 by Hong Kong Express Airways on February 1. Passengers on board the returning flight concerned and the taxi driver who drove the patient and her husband from the Hong Kong International Airport to their home in Villa Esplanada, Tsing Yi at around 1am on February 2, the taxi driver who drove the patient from PMH to her home at around 1pm on February 4, as well as the taxi driver who drove her from her home to PMH at around 3pm on February 5, are urged to call the CHP hotline.

The second additional case involves a 63-year-old woman with good past health, who developed cough and malaise since January 26. The patient later consulted a Chinese medicine practitioner. She consulted a private doctor on February 5 and sought treatment at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital where she was admitted for management on the same day. Her respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus. She is in stable condition.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the patient resides in Ko Mong Building, 142-146 Shau Kei Wan Road. She visited her husband who lives in Lai To Home For The Aged in Sai Wan Ho during the incubation period and after onset of symptoms. She had no travel history during the period. Her husband, as well as her son and granddaughter who live with her, are asymptomatic and quarantine will be arranged for them.

The third additional case involves a 65-year-old woman with underlying illnesses. She developed fever and cough since January 28. She consulted a private doctor on January 29 and February 1, and sought treatment from the Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) on February 5 where she was admitted for management. Her respiratory samples were tested positive for novel coronavirus. She is in serious condition.

Preliminary investigations revealed that she lives alone in Sui Shek House in Shek Mun Estate, Sha Tin and had no travel history during the incubation period. The taxi driver who drove the patient from the Hilton Plaza in Sha Tin to PWH at around 12.15pm to 1pm on February 5 is urged to call the CHP hotline.

A spokesman for the CHP said, "According to our preliminary epidemiological investigations, some of the confirmed cases are believed to be locally infected. The CHP strongly urged 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."

The spokesman said, "On the 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. The public should go out less and reduce social activities, and maintain appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible."

"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."

The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Health Commission of Guangdong Province, Health Bureau of Macao and the health authority of Japan.

The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. The CHP is also closely monitoring and following up on the contact tracing of relevant confirmed cases in the Mainland and overseas. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. For the progress on the contact tracing of the cases, please see annex.

The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for public enquiries. The hotline operates from 8am to midnight daily. As at 4pm today, a total of 5 762 calls were received.

A dedicated webpage (www.gov.hk/ncv) has been set up by the CHP. Information including the latest local situation, list of buildings and list of flights/trains/ships relevant to the confirmed cases, countries/areas with reported cases as well as health advice and a "Novel Coronavirus Infection Local Situation Interactive Map Dashboard" are available on the webpage to help the public grasp the latest updates...

...Ends/Thursday, February 6, 2020
Issued at HKT 22:35

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020600724.htm
Safeguarding safety of frontline staff with continuous enhancement of epidemic control measures
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) today (February 6) met with staff union representatives and reiterated the importance attached to the safety of staff and their concerns about protective equipment and isolation facilities amid the worsening epidemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia.

The HA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Tony Ko pointed out that since the beginning of the epidemic, additional resources have been allocated to the procurement of supplies and enhancement of infection control measures to keep up with the latest situation.

"Since the activation of Emergency Response Level by the HA, public hospitals have correspondingly enhanced infection control measures, leading to significant increase in the consumption of personal protective equipment. The global supply is currently tight for protective equipment such as masks, eye shields and protective clothing. The HA understands the concerns of frontline staff and will try the best to expedite the procurement of protective equipment for patient care."

In terms of isolation facilities, public hospitals have gradually converted the reserve isolation beds according to operational needs. The number of isolation beds has increased from 500 at the beginning of the epidemic to over 800 isolation beds, with the current utilisation rate of 42 per cent.

In addition, to reduce the risk of general wards, the HA has earlier extended the "Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance" programme to all pneumonia inpatients for early identification of novel coronavirus pneumonia patients.

"In view of staff concerns towards patients withholding travel history, the HA can also confirm patients' record of leaving and entering the territory with the support of the Immigration Department beginning today."

"There have been more local cases of infection in Hong Kong. Public hospitals count on the concerted effort of staff members to fight the epidemic. The HA hopes that employees involved in industrial action will return to work as soon as possible to join hands to combat the epidemic. The HA promised to treat all staff members absent from duty fairly with the same compassionate, reasonable and legal grounds," Dr Ko added.

The Chief Manager of Cluster Performance, Dr Ian Cheung said that the ongoing industrial actions continue to severely affect public hospital services, including a number of emergency and essential medical services.

As at 7pm today, about 5 000 employees were absent from duty, including about 220 doctors, 3 000 nurses and 900 allied health professionals. The more seriously affected departments include Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Accident & Emergency Department and elective surgeries.

The HA Major Incident Control Centre will continue to closely monitor the operation of public hospitals. The HA will also continue to communicate with staff members and sincerely thanks colleagues staying on duty to work together to fight the epidemic.



Ends/Thursday, February 6, 2020
Issued at HKT 23:12

[Treyfish]

Coronavirus: community outbreak declared in Hong Kong as government prepares to quarantine mainland Chinese entering city in hotels and other facilities

• Lack of travel history in several confirmed cases convinces Professor Yuen Kwok-yung of local human-to-human transmission
• Carrie Lam adviser says government to quarantine incoming mainland Chinese in hotels and government centres

Published: 1:15pm, 6 Feb, 2020
A top microbiologist has declared a community outbreak of the
deadly coronavirus
in Hong Kong as a government adviser revealed mainland Chinese entering the city could be quarantined in hotels or public facilities under compulsory restrictions taking effect on Saturday.

The dreaded confirmation of a local spread came a day after the government said all travellers from the mainland, including Hong Kong residents, would be placed on a mandatory 14-day quarantine as part of its escalated response to the contagion.

The city’s administration was expected to provide more details on how that would be executed on Thursday afternoon amid uncertainty over the manpower and resources at its disposal to impose effective measures...https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...ared-hong-kong

[sharon sanders]

Additional cases today:


19 05/02/2020 30/01/2020 F 28 Princess Margaret Hospital Hospitalised HK resident Close contact of local case
20 05/02/2020 04/02/2020 F 56 Princess Margaret Hospital Hospitalised HK resident Close contact of local case
21 05/02/2020 30/01/2020 M 56 Princess Margaret Hospital Hospitalised HK resident Possibly local
22 06/02/2020 01/02/2020 F 55 Princess Margaret Hospital Hospitalised HK resident Close contact of possibly local
23 06/02/2020 26/01/2020 F 63 Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital Hospitalised HK resident Local case with unknown source
24 06/02/2020 28/01/2020 F 65 Prince of Wales Hospital Hospitalised HK resident Local case with unknown source

https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/enhanced_sur_pneumonia_wuhan_eng.pdf

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020700556.htm
Government clarifies rumours on Internet
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Regarding the rumours on the Internet that some government departments are forcing their staff to participate in voluntary work related to the fight against the novel coronavirus disease, a government spokesman clarified today (February 7) that the rumours are totally unfounded.

The spokesman said that to tackle the critical situation, the Government hopes that departments would encourage their staff and former civil servants who had retired to participate on a voluntary basis in the voluntary work to provide support arising from operational needs. The tasks involved would be non-medical and non-professional in nature.

Their own operational requirements permitting, the departments will release their staff who have voluntarily signed up to be volunteers on loan to the Department of Health, the Home Affairs Bureau and its departments, or the Social Welfare Department for the work concerned.



Ends/Friday, February 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:51

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020700651.htm

Public hospital daily update on Wuhan-related cases
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

As at noon today (February 7), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 58 patients (25 male and 33 female, aged 17 months to 93) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of severe respiratory disease associated with a novel infectious agent. Specimens of the patients concerned have been sent for testing. There are still 94 patients under isolation.

Among the 24 cases confirmed with novel coronavirus infection, 23 are still hospitalised. Three are critical and the others are stable in condition. Healthcare team is closely monitoring their situation and will discuss with experts on their treatment plans.

As at noon today, the number of isolation beds in public hospitals was 878 with occupancy 40.4 per cent. The number of isolation wards was 470 with occupancy 60.6 per cent. The Hospital Authority (HA) will continue to switch the wards to negative pressure mode based on operational need.

The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest epidemic developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.



Ends/Friday, February 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:02

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020700649.htm

Hospital Authority welcomes staff resuming duty
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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) welcomes staff union's decision to suspend industrial action today (February 7), and hopes staff members can resume duty as soon as possible to provide the patient services in need.

As the continuing industrial action has affected public hospital services for several days, the HA wishes to apologise to all affected patients. The HA will continue to maintain communication and dialogue with staff members and unions.

Committed to protecting the safety of healthcare staff and patients, the HA will try its best efforts to procure adequate protective equipment and adjust elective services to focus resources on fighting the epidemic.

The HA once again thanks the staff who have stayed on duty to maintain public hospital services with great efforts. We sincerely hope that all staff will join hands to combat the increasingly severe epidemic situation.



Ends/Friday, February 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:13

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020700725.htm

CHP continues health quarantine work on World Dream cruise
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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.



Ends/Friday, February 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 22:36

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020700760.htm

CHP investigates two additional imported cases of novel coronavirus infection
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 8pm today (February 7), the CHP is investigating two additional imported cases of novel coronavirus infection, taking to 26 the number of confirmed cases so far in Hong Kong.

The first additional case involves a 58-year-old man with good past health who lives in Zhuhai. He developed fever and cough since February 4 and returned to Hong Kong on February 5. He consulted a private doctor on February 6 and sought treatment at North District Hospital (NDH) where he was admitted for isolation and management on the same day. His respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus. He is in serious condition.

The CHP has immediately commenced epidemiological investigations and conducted relevant contact tracing. According to the patient's information, he travelled from Zhuhai to Macao back and forth for work during the incubation period. He returned to Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge boundary control point on February 5 and resided in Serenity Garden in Sheung Shui with his friend. Quarantine will be arranged for his friend who is asymptomatic.

The taxi driver who drove the patient from Serenity Garden, Sheung Shui to Wah Ming Shopping Centre in Fanling at around 9am on February 6, as well as another taxi driver who drove him from Wah Ming Shopping Centre in Fanling to NDH at around 11am on February 6, are urged to call the CHP hotline.

The other case involves a 42-year-old man with good past health who lives in The Palazzo, Fo Tan. He developed fever and cough since February 3 and sought treatment at Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) where he was admitted for isolation and management on the same day. His respiratory sample was tested positive for novel coronavirus. He is in stable condition.

According to the patient's information, he went to Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport from Hong Kong on January 22 before onset of symptoms for a flight to Hebei Province, and returned by air from Hebei Province to Guangzhou on January 26 and then visited Macao on the same day. He returned to Hong Kong from Macao by ferry on February 2. The domestic helper presented with symptoms who lived with him will be sent to PWH, and quarantine will be arranged for his friend who lived with him, who is asymptomatic.
　　 　　　
The taxi driver who drove the patient from The Palazzo to PWH at around 2pm on February 6 is urged to call the CHP hotline.

A spokesman for the CHP said, "According to our preliminary epidemiological investigations, some of the confirmed cases are believed to be locally infected. The CHP strongly urged 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."

The spokesman said, "On the 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. The public should go out less and reduce social activities, and maintain appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible."

"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."

The CHP will report the cases to the World Health Organization, National Health Commission, Health Commission of Guangdong Province, Health Bureau of Macao.

The CHP has today received notification on two Taiwan confirmed cases, involving one female patient and one male patient. They took the flight CX292 by Cathay Pacific (CX) from Rome to Hong Kong on January 31, and took the flight CX450 by CX from Hong Kong to Taipei on February 1.

The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. The CHP is also closely monitoring and following up on the contact tracing of relevant confirmed cases in the Mainland and overseas. Quarantine will be arranged for close contacts while medical surveillance will be arranged for other contacts. For the progress on the contact tracing of the cases, please see annex.

The CHP has set up a hotline (2125 1122) for public enquiries. The hotline operates from 8am to midnight daily. As at 4pm today, a total of 7 161 calls were received.

A dedicated webpage (www.gov.hk/ncv) has been set up by the CHP. Information including the latest local situation, list of buildings and list of flights/trains/ships relevant to the confirmed cases, countries/areas with reported cases as well as health advice and a "Novel Coronavirus Infection Local Situation Interactive Map Dashboard" are available on the webpage to help the public grasp the latest updates...

...Ends/Friday, February 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 23:45

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020700775.htm
People entering Hong Kong from Mainland should comply with compulsory quarantine
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Starting from tomorrow (February 8), the Department of Health (DH) will issue quarantine orders to all people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland, including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and visitors from other places. People concerned shall stay at home or other accommodation for a 14-day compulsory quarantine.

Despite those exempted under the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation, people who have been to the Mainland in the past 14 days preceding arrival at Hong Kong, even if they enter Hong Kong via other places, are covered. They have not developed any symptoms and passed temperature checks upon entry. Those with symptoms will be referred to the DH for further handling. Arrivals holding a visa with validity of less than 14 days will be denied entry.

In general, Hong Kong residents will stay at home for quarantine. For non Hong Kong residents who have arranged to stay at hotels or other dwelling places, they will conduct quarantine at the concerned hotels or dwelling places. If persons under compulsory quarantine are not able to arrange accommodation, they will conduct quarantine at temporary accommodation provided by the Government.

The risk of the abovementioned type of persons requiring quarantine is relatively low. They are not the close contacts of the confirmed cases or those who have visited Hubei within 14 days, and do not have any symptoms. Therefore, they can conduct compulsory quarantine at home or the dwelling places for 14 days. Their family members are not required to conduct compulsory quarantine.

Persons under quarantine have to stay at home or the dwelling places all day and wear masks. They are prohibited to leave Hong Kong. Persons under quarantine and those living with them have to check their body temperature every day and monitor their health condition. If they have fever or develop other symptoms, they have to inform the Centre for Health Protection about their health condition via dedicated hotline. After assessment, they will be sent to hospitals for treatment when necessary.

During the quarantine period, those living with the persons under quarantine can supply them with food and necessities daily. The Home Affairs Department will also provide them with a hotline for enquiries. If the persons under quarantine are genuinely incapable of arranging their daily necessities, the Social Welfare Department will provide assistance.

The Government has to emphasise that self-discipline and community solidarity in fighting against the disease are of upmost importance. Any person concerned who leave the dwelling places without permission may commit a criminal offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for six months and a fine of $25,000. The Government will ensure the persons under compulsory quarantine stay at homes by spot checks and telephone calls, etc.

To ensure that the freight between Hong Kong and the Mainland would not be affected, the Government will exempt people in the relevant businesses and work who need to frequent between the two places. Categories of persons who are exempted from the compulsory quarantine requirement for 14 days are clearly stipulated in the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Public Health Emergency) Regulation.

The DH will arrange medical surveillance for persons under the above exempted categories 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.



Ends/Friday, February 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 23:56

[Shiloh]

Source: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...0020700776.htm

Transcript of remarks of press conference (with photo/video)
*************************************************


The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, held a press conference in the afternoon of February 7. Also joining were the Secretary for Justice, Ms Teresa Cheng, SC; the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah; the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau; the Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Joshua Law; the Secretary for Security, Mr John Lee; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan; and the Deputy Secretary for Food and Health (Food), Mr Daniel Cheng. Following is the transcript of remarks of the press conference.

Reporter: Just a few English questions first. First question regarding the quarantine measures. Are there any other measures other than spot checks and the possible legal consequences to make sure that people really are staying at home or staying in the hotels they're booked in? How should people behave when they are being quarantined in these places? And isn't that subjecting other people in the building or other hotel stayers to possible risk or higher risk even? Second question, regarding the people coming into Hong Kong these few days, I'm sure the officials are aware that Mainland visitors entering Hong Kong, particularly through Shenzhen Bay Port, have significantly increased since this mandatory quarantine is announced. With this buffer between the announcement and the actual implementation, have the Hong Kong Government actually already let a lot of potential cases, as some haven't shown symptoms yet, into Hong Kong? And has that increased the risk for the city and adding pressure for our medical system? Third area, regarding the Chief Secretary’s appeal to current and retired government workers to volunteer to help with quarantine efforts, some union leaders are saying that some government workers are being strong-armed or pressured into volunteering to take part, even though they're scared that they might be infected. So what's your response to that? Would there be any follow-up? And has this appeal actually come too late since the measure, like, the quarantine, is coming tomorrow, basically?

Chief Secretary for Administration: Let me deal with the third question because you specifically mentioned my name, and I will also answer in general terms the first question about quarantine and leave it to the experts, Professor Chan and also Secretary for Security, to deal with the second question. My appeal to civil servants is a sincere one. It's genuine. We are facing really challenging times and we are talking about social cohesion. It's time for solidarity. I think everybody in the civil service, everyone in the community, should exercise civic responsibility - it's time for us to stand together. Together we stand, divided we fall, right? So we must work hand in hand to tackle this crisis situation, the virus. I'm really making a personal, sincere appeal. I'm telling you that some heads of departments are responding in very positive terms already. I'm receiving very encouraging emails. So any suggestion of coercion is entirely untrue. On the other hand, it's really persuasion, appeal. I'm sure that a number of civil servants will respond to my appeal. So I just want to put the record straight: no question of coercion. It's on a voluntary basis. As the name implies, volunteer.

The first question relates to quarantine. Now let me make an appeal here. The 14-day home quarantine we talked about, basically, the tier two, so-called the tier two quarantine, because these people are not carriers at all. They don't display any symptoms at all. First of all, they are not close contacts, all right? And also they are under close surveillance, close liaison with the Department of Health, the experts there every day - temperature checking and also make sure they wear a mask and all that. What they do is just to stay home. You know, if they've got any needs at all, they've got volunteers to help them. In fact, the Social Welfare Department and Home Affairs Department will stand ready to help them - anything that we can do for them, even childcare, all right? Even buying necessities, buying lunch, dinner, breakfast. And also there will be a hotline provided by Home Affairs Department, I will invite SHA (Secretary for Home Affairs) to supplement. But let me first hand the question to Professor Chan, all right? Then followed by Kong-wah, the SHA.

Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, regarding the objective of this mandatory quarantine, their legal backing is to reduce the cross boundary people flow, as well as to reduce the transmissibility of the virus within the community. The mandatory quarantine for 14 days, as the Chief Secretary alluded to earlier, there are checking and also medical surveillance as well as looking into the condition of the people at home. The whole idea is for this person to stay at home and not to go out. So that in case they carry any virus, it would not be transmitted to the rest of the community. That is the whole idea.

Other than the information packs of health education and also telephone calls to the clients, there will be spot checks and random checks to see whether this person is at home. Of course the condition of these persons, for example, whether they have recorded high temperatures, whether they have any clinical symptoms, would be also checked and recorded by themselves.

There will be periodic checking by the Department of Health colleagues to monitor the situation. Of course, self discipline is the most important because the whole idea is not to put the person at home, and then having a lot of guards outside. It is not for this. Self discipline and having everybody in Hong Kong together fighting this infectious disease is the most important.

Chief Secretary for Administration: It all boils down to civic responsibility here. Can I also invite Mr Lau, SHA, to talk a little about the support? Because the Social Welfare Department and also Home Affairs Department underpin the whole exercise as volunteers.

Secretary for Home Affairs: We’ll set up 37 hotlines to deal with those enquiries by the people under home quarantine. They will be running 24 hours by the staff of the HAD.

Reporter: My question about Shenzhen Bay entry?

Chief Secretary for Administration: Yes, I will hand the question to John, S for S.

Secretary for Security: Since the Government introduced measures starting on January 30 to suspend the service of six control points and thereafter on February 4, another four control points, we can see the arrival figures have been dropping. On February 5, i.e. the day before yesterday, the total number of people arriving in Hong Kong was 58 800 roughly, that is a drop of 75 per cent compared with the figure before the introduction of the measures. For Hong Kong people arriving, the figure is a drop of 77 per cent; for Mainland visitors, a drop of 68 per cent; for other visitors, a drop of 50 per cent. Yesterday was the single day we saw an increase in the number of arrivals since the introduction of the measures. It is not unexpected because tomorrow we will be implementing the mandatory quarantine for 14 days and it is understandable (that) there are a lot people who either left Hong Kong or left Mainland to come back to Hong Kong or they travel across to sort out some of the businesses for their own arrangement. The key really is on risk management in regard to all these human movements across the border. By introducing the 14-day mandatory quarantine measure, we will be stopping a lot of people, so either today or yesterday, there would be people who would be making arrangements for themselves so as to arrange themselves daily routines to fit into the new arrangement. The question is the frequency will be severely stopped as a result of the measure. So the frequency of travel is the key factor in regard to risk management.

Reporter: So first of all I would like to ask that regarding we’re expecting a large amount of people that would require quarantine, has the Government actually identified new locations for quarantine apart from the three holiday camps, which could only provide 97 units? And you mentioned that for people who do not have residence in Hong Kong, they would, maybe, be quarantined in hotels. But what if hotels were filled, those people would be quarantined there, and if those hotel staff, do they have a duty or obligation to monitor those people in quarantine? And also I would like to follow up a question previously asked by a Chinese-speaking colleague saying that the advice from Professor Gabriel Leung saying that hotels are actually not suitable for quarantine because the ventilation system might allow the virus to be spread through the entire building even the new people they might …(inaudible) Why does the Government still choose hotels as one of the quarantine sites? Thank you.

Chief Secretary for Administration: Let me deal with the first question first. The people ordered to go into home quarantine, basically they are low risk - so-called tier two, all right? Tier two. They are not close contacts of confirmed cases. They do not display any symptoms at all, and also are under close surveillance and also close contact with the Department of Health and so on. So they are under regular surveillance all the time. All we have talked about is really for them to spend 14 days on their own, all right? In isolation as it were with full support rendered to them and their families as well, so we are talking about a special category of people under quarantine. Now as far as venues are concerned, the centres are concerned, we’re talking about home quarantine, the problem is solved. Basically we’re talking about staying home, all right? They’ve got their room, their place to live, to operate. For those without accommodation, we’ve got to provide them with accommodation. The challenge therefore is to find enough and suitable venues. That’s why we’re now doing our best. We’re doing our best, searching the right sites. That’s why we call on the community, citizens of Hong Kong exercise our civic responsibility. Time for solidarity, time for understanding, time for social cohesion particularly, as I always stress, it’s social cohesion, time for us to stand together to face the crisis, all right? So, is there anything you want to supplement?

Secretary for Food and Health: Perhaps I can invite the Director of Health to talk more about the places whereby we think whether it is suitable or not for quarantine. As I said earlier about different levels of risk, for example we now placed the close contacts of the confirmed cases in quarantine camps. They are of the highest risk because they are the close contacts of confirmed cases. We also have a quarantine category for people who come from Hubei. Now we are talking about people who are coming from any parts of China in the last 14 days. The risk level is different based on the assessment of the Department of Health.

Director of Health: Under the existing legislation, there are two types of order, namely the isolation order, and the second one is the quarantine order. Isolation applies to patient, infected persons. If there is a case who is highly suspected to be infected by this novel coronavirus and also for confirmed cases, they will be managed in a hospital under isolation. Once confirmed, they will be held there and kept there until they are fully recovered. That’s for isolation. As for quarantine, there are several types of situation when quarantine order will be issued. In the past, we considered the close contact of confirmed cases. For close contact, I mean, for example, household family; if travelling on an airplane, the passengers sitting within a radius of two seats of the confirmed cases. These close contact, so defined, will be put in quarantine centres. The familiar one which you will know will be like Lady MacLehose Holiday Village. So those are the close contacts of confirmed cases. With the passing of the new emergency regulation, which takes effect tonight, it applies to anyone who has ever been to the Mainland in the past 14 days. So they do not fulfill the criteria of having been a close contact of a confirmed case. They are simply anyone who has ever been to the Mainland in the past 14 days. Because of the fact that we want to achieve two purposes, namely, reduce cross-boundary movement of people and secondly, ask those who have been to the Mainland to stay at home. In the past, we advised people to stay at home for 14 days if they have ever been to the Mainland. But with the recent appearance of more local cases, we think it is important and essential for these people to be applied a more stringent measure. By that, instead of just advising them to stay at home, we mandate them to stay at home. These people are relatively low risk and that is why we adopt a different level of quarantine having done the risk assessment.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)



Ends/Saturday, February 8, 2020
Issued at HKT 0:00