Re: Hong Kong, Secretary for Food and Health on novel coronavirus (March 17 2013)
WARNING: Google Automatic Translation.
Source: Government of Hong Kong PRC SAR: (in Chinese)
Food and Department of Health Bureau Secretary Tan novel coronavirus, infant formula powder supply, private hospital charges and psychiatric
services
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Ko Wing-man, Food and the Department of Health Secretary today (March 17) morning to attend public events, speaking to the media content:
Reporter:
''UK Department of Health Protection Bureau novel coronavirus asymptomatic, whether worried difficult to prevent and to detect patients infected with the novel coronavirus?''
Food and Department of Health Bureau Secretary:
''I have paid attention to and concern has been reported, serious symptoms can also occur in some cases, not necessarily each patient by a new coronavirus infection.
''Some poor body resistance or patients suffering from other diseases, their condition may soon turn serious; Some patients will soon recover, these patients show positive response to the new coronavirus test.
''In fact, all diseases, including seasonal influenza and has previously appeared SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), each patient's response to the virus and present clinical severity, there must be a lot of difference.
''During the SARS appears, there have been a noun, is "invisible patients. Fact, all infectious diseases must be some patients after being infected, no signs of disease, not SARS or present novel coronavirus unique problems.
''That clinical health care workers, and any time the need for vigilance, because not all patients infected with the novel coronavirus, its condition is very serious.
''Therefore, we attach great importance to the vigilance of the individual, for example, the patient had traveled to the affected areas, developed symptoms after returning to Hong Kong, despite the mild symptoms, but also health care professionals for help.
''Department of Health Protection (CHP) has recently been in contact with the airlines, seven airlines have flights to the Middle East before returning to Hong Kong will distribute leaflets on the aircraft.
''In addition, the airline will gradually be inserted after the flight back to Hong Kong broadcast. I find that the broadcast is more effective, because it reached after the flight landed, but not parked position, still driving, broadcast in this period to remind passengers, allows passengers to recall their discomfort or symptoms of illness, and if so, can you feel Department of Health staff, notify the crew or contact the port to increase the opportunities at an early stage, we can identify the patients affected by a new coronavirus, which is the most important.
''Not least because of the new coronavirus is very special, that the "invisible patients, in fact, all infectious diseases, basically each patient's symptoms and severity can be different.
Reporter:
''Earlier a staff of Cathay Pacific Airways new coronavirus infection, his present situation? With him on the same flight back to Hong Kong, other staff of the situation and how?
For Food and Health Health Secretary:
''Earlier, Queen Elizabeth Hospital to the Department of Health Protection (CHP) of the two patients in a short period of time on respiratory symptoms, including a fever, and had traveled to the Middle East to return to Hong Kong, including
''A crew member. We present a quick test, two patients on the novel coronavirus negative reaction within a day of the test.
''So far no patients with confirmed novel coronavirus found in Hong Kong.
''I would like to reiterate that if any suspected cases, we will not wait, immediately released as soon as possible, after a quick test results will be announced as soon as possible.
''Our current practice with a high degree of transparency, we do not easily believe that the information from unknown sources, rumors circulated on the Internet, and also do not send unconfirmed news.
Reporter:
''You said yesterday that limit the output of infant formula milk powder will not be canceled in the short term, the Director of Immigration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki refers to the effectiveness of the measures today enough, you still insist on not revoke the restrictions?
Food and Department of Health Bureau Secretary:
''we have seen results, we also agree. The level of activity from the parallel off panic buying at the retail point of milk, and we observed that parents in Hong Kong in the market to buy infant formula with little difficulty, coupled with the government's hotline received a number of calls have been less, from these circumstances are taken to a basket of measures add up to effective, but this is when we should consider abolishing the 2013 Import and Export (General) (Amendment) Regulations prohibit the output of milk powder measures , when the removal of the restrictions, it is another matter.
''Because it involved if we do not have this Regulation, to stop the implementation of the (restrictions), may again be free to leave Hong Kong carrying infant formula, then the situation will be how this important issue.
''Our assessment is that Although the level of activity of the parallel current show restraint, but if canceled the restrictions, I believe that the level of activity once again intensified, when the level of activity once again intensified, but at all levels, including the supply, distribution, retail supply
''The chain is not yet perfect, the tense situation around the Spring Festival every year, and it could happen again. I said very clearly, I hope borrowed this time, the (to restrict output infant formula powder) in addition to the one hand, continue to review the effectiveness of the measures need to negotiate with suppliers, retailers and distributors, on the other hand, to further improve the four aspects of the measures, the overall supply, retail distribution, supply chain, order milk hotline service arrangements, as well as in retail outlets accept reservations milk.
''If we can implement these four aspects of the arrangement, I think that time can be more confident that measures operating smoothly, each of Hong Kong parents through numerous methods, to ensure that they can order and buy milk, we will consider revocation (limit output infants measures of infant formula powder), this is our idea.
Reporter:
''In private hospitals, yesterday you expressed the hope that private hospitals can increase competition, thereby reducing the charges, but the government does not limit the fees of private hospitals, worried that all private hospitals to increase charges together?
Food and the Secretary of the Department of Health Bureau:
''I have made it very clear that the government will not decide whether to limit fees on a. Hong Kong is a place of free trade, there is no provision for any private service charges. If we limit the fees of private medical services, service charges, including private hospitals, I believe we may not agree. Although some people are worried about the toll increase, the impact on the user's burden, but I believe that any private service charges, should also be adjusted through the market mechanism, increase competition and improve transparency so that the public can be expected to charges and make a choice, this is what I call principles.
Reporter:
''Recently, two men suspected of killing their parents, the two suspects psychiatric records? Authorities whether there is any mechanism to track after with mental illness to reintegrate into society?
Food and the Secretary of the Department of Health Bureau:
''First of all, according to international trends and professional direction, existing psychiatric services is hope that the patient does not need a long time to receive treatment in a mental hospital or hospital. Therefore, the trend is to try to support these patients live in the community until their condition is stable. The Hospital Authority (HA) has in recent years actively implement a case management plan has been discharged by a trained psychiatric nurses or other staff main reason a risk originally larger patient to ensure that their follow-up services in the community, and medication on time.
''Of course, this service is not yet able to speak perfect stage has been reached, still gradually introduced. During incidents of domestic violence occur within the community, we will be interested in, partly arising from either the person is mentally ill, if they are in the community for some time no medication, no follow-up situation, the condition does change. We now have a mechanism, if the patient is discharged from hospital risk assessment is high, there will be a special tracking mechanism. The recent case of the massacre of the people of Hong Kong was very upset, we have yet to grasp the information, but the HA will fully cooperate with the police investigation.
Reporter:
(about the suspect consultation has raised their mental problems)
Health Bureau Secretary for Food and Health,:
''HA will fully cooperate with the police investigation, I am yet to master the individual patient.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
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