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Author Archives: hksar gov

CHP investigates influenza A outbreak at elderly home in Wong Tai Sin

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (December 28) investigating an influenza A outbreak at a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) in Wong Tai Sin, and again reminded the public to maintain strict personal and environmental hygiene against influenza.

     “The latest surveillance data showed that the overall influenza activity in Hong Kong continued to increase. It is anticipated that the local influenza activity will further increase and the winter influenza season will arrive soon. Members of the public should maintain good personal protection against influenza,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     The outbreak involves 21 male residents aged 67 to 95 and a staff member. They have developed fever, cough and sore throat since December 22. All sought medical attention. Among them, 20 required hospitalisation and six of them were discharged following treatment. All patients have been in a stable condition.

     The respiratory specimens of 18 residents tested positive for influenza A virus upon laboratory testing.

     Officers of the CHP have conducted a site visit and advised the RCHE to adopt necessary infection control measures against respiratory infections. The RCHE has been put under medical surveillance.

     RCHEs are reminded to follow the Guidelines on Prevention of Communicable Diseases on preventive and control measures as well as management of outbreaks, which should be reported to the CHP for prompt follow-up. 
 
     “Particularly, children, the elderly and those with underlying illnesses are urged to receive influenza vaccination as early as possible to prevent seasonal influenza as it takes about two weeks for antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination. They should promptly seek medical advice if influenza-like symptoms develop so that appropriate treatment can be initiated as early as possible to prevent potential complications. Parents and carers are reminded to render assistance in prevention, care and control for vulnerable people,” the spokesman added.

     The public should maintain good personal and environmental hygiene for protection against influenza and other respiratory illnesses:
 

  • Receive seasonal influenza vaccination for personal protection;
  • 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 as an effective alternative;
  • Wash or clean hands frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, or after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs;
  • Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards;
  • Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly in a lidded rubbish bin;
  • Put on a surgical mask when respiratory symptoms develop;
  • Maintain good indoor ventilation;
  • Avoid going to crowded or poorly ventilated public places; high-risk individuals may consider putting on surgical masks when staying in such places; and
  • Maintain a balanced diet, exercise regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.

     For more information, please visit the CHP’s influenza page and weekly Flu Express. read more

Suspected MERS case reported

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 28) reported a suspected case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and again urged the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of the health risks in the places they visit. The case is detailed below:
 

Sex Male
Age 41
Affected area involved Dubai, United Arab Emirates
High-risk exposure Camel ride
Hospital Ruttonjee Hospital
Condition Stable
MERS-Coronavirus preliminary test result Negative
      
     “Travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels; avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry; and avoid unnecessary visits to healthcare facilities. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are known risk factors for acquiring MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV),” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     Locally, the CHP’s surveillance with public and private hospitals, with practising doctors and at boundary control points is firmly in place. Inbound travellers and members of the public who recently visited the Middle East and developed fever or lower respiratory symptoms within 14 days will be classified as suspected MERS cases. They will be taken to public hospitals for isolation and management until their specimens test negative for MERS-CoV.

     Travellers to affected areas should maintain vigilance, adopt appropriate health precautions and take heed of personal, food and environmental hygiene. The public may visit the MERS pages of the CHP and its Travel Health Service, MERS statistics in affected areas, the CHP’s Facebook Page and YouTube Channel, and the World Health Organization’s latest news for more information and health advice. Tour leaders and tour guides operating overseas tours are advised to refer to the CHP’s health advice on MERS. read more

Special traffic arrangements and crowd safety management measures on Hong Kong Island on January 1

     Police will implement special traffic arrangements and crowd safety management measures to facilitate a public order event to be held on Hong Kong Island on January 1, 2019 (Tuesday).

Crowd safety management measures
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     The public event consists of three parts, namely a public meeting commencing at 2pm at East Point Road Pedestrian Precinct and Lockhart Road Pedestrian Precinct, a public procession starting at 3pm heading to Central followed by a public meeting in Central.

     The public procession will pass through Yee Wo Street, Hennessy Road, Queensway, Rodney Street, westbound Harcourt Road, Cotton Tree Drive, eastbound Harcourt Road and Tim Mei Avenue for a public meeting at the Central Government Offices (CGO) East Wing Forecourt and designated public activity areas at western pavement of Tim Mei Avenue.
     
     Participants who wish to leave upon arrival or during the public meeting in Central may leave via various directions towards Admiralty or Wan Chai. For safety reason, if the venue of public meeting is saturated, other participants arriving at a later stage should leave via the same directions. They should pay attention to the announcement made by the organiser and follow the instructions given by Police officers, staff of CGO or event marshals on site.

     To maintain public safety and public order, Police will impose several conditions to the organiser. The conditions include requesting the organiser to appeal to the participants taking part in fund-raising, hawking or any other propaganda activities to ensure that their stalls or temporarily-erected structures would not cause obstructions to the public procession or endanger the safety of the public procession participants or other road users.
     
     Members of the public going to Admiralty, Wan Chai and Causeway Bay are encouraged to use public transport. They should follow the instructions of Police or event marshals and pay attention to the temporary signage displayed on site.

     It is the Police’s policy to facilitate all lawful public order events. Police will take effective measures to ensure public safety and public order and engage the organiser to garner their full co-operation.  Participants are advised to express their views in a peaceful manner.

Special traffic arrangements
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     The following special traffic arrangements will be implemented in phases until the crowd has dispersed and traffic resumes normal:

A. Road closure

From about 1.30pm

– If necessary, Great George Street;
– If necessary, Paterson Street between Gloucester Road and Great George Street;
– If necessary, Kingston Street;
– If necessary, Cleveland Street;
– If necessary, Cannon Street;
– If necessary, Lockhart Road east of Percival Street, except for green minibuses (GMBs);
– If necessary, Jaffe Road east of Percival Street, except for GMBs.

From about 2pm

– Leftmost lane of westbound Yee Wo Street;
– Leftmost lane of westbound Hennessy Road;
– Jardine’s Bazaar;
– Tang Lung Street;
– Canal Road East between Russell Street and Hennessy Road;
– Canal Road West between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road;
– Wan Chai Road between Canal Road West and Morrison Hill Road;
– Bowrington Road between Sharp Street West and Hennessy Road;
– Lee Garden Road between Kai Chiu Road and Hennessy Road;
– Kai Chiu Road; and
– Yun Ping Road between Lan Fong Road and Kai Chiu Road.

From about 3pm

– Southbound Rodney Street;
– Westbound Harcourt Road between the exit of Harcourt Garden car park and Cotton Tree Drive;
– All lay-bys along Tim Mei Avenue and Lung Wui Road;
– The unnamed road outside ex-Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters; and
– If necessary, southbound Tim Wa Avenue between Lung Wo Road and Harcourt Road.

B. Traffic diversions

From about 1pm

– If necessary, traffic along northbound Tai Hang Road flyover cannot turn left to westbound Kingston Street;
– If necessary, traffic along southbound Paterson Street must turn left to eastbound Kingston Street;
– If necessary, traffic along southbound Cleveland Street cannot turn right to westbound Kingston Street;
– If necessary, traffic along westbound Gloucester Road service road cannot turn left to southbound Cleveland Street;
– If necessary, traffic along westbound Gloucester Road service road cannot turn left to southbound Paterson Street;
– If necessary, traffic along slip road leading from westbound Victoria Park Road cannot enter Cleveland Street;
– If necessary, traffic along eastbound Lockhart Road must turn right to Percival Street, except GMBs;
– If necessary, traffic along northbound Cannon Street cannot turn left to westbound Jaffe Road, except GMBs;

From about 2pm

– Traffic along northbound Pennington Street cannot turn left to Jardine’s Bazaar;
– Traffic along westbound Hennessy Road cannot turn left to southbound Canal Road East;
– Traffic along westbound Russell Street must turn left to southbound Canal Road East;
– Traffic along northbound Canal Road West near Sharp Street West will be diverted to the up-ramp leading to northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic along eastbound Sharp Street West will be diverted to the up-ramp leading to northbound Canal Road flyover;
– Traffic along eastbound Sharp Street West cannot turn left to northbound Bowrington Road;
– Traffic along northbound Bowrington Road must turn right to eastbound Sharp Street West; and
– Traffic along eastbound Wan Chai Road must turn right to southbound Morrison Hill Road.

From about 3pm

– Traffic along westbound Harcourt Road near the exit of Harcourt Garden car park will be diverted to westbound Harcourt Road flyover;
– Traffic from United Centre Bus Terminus must turn left to westbound Drake Street;
– If necessary, traffic along eastbound Harcourt Road cannot turn left to northbound Tim Mei Avenue;
– If necessary, traffic along Lung Wo Road cannot enter Tim Wa Avenue, except for vehicles accessing Chief Executive’s Office and CGO car park; and
– If necessary, traffic along Lung Wo Road cannot turn to southbound Edinburgh Place.

C. Suspension of on-street parking spaces

     All on-street parking spaces, motorcycle parking spaces and disabled parking spaces on eastbound Lung Wui Road opposite to CITIC Tower will be suspended from about 12 noon to 11.59pm.

     Vehicles will not be permitted to leave or enter car parks at the affected areas during the road closure period.

     Any vehicle found illegally parked within the precincts mentioned above will be towed away without prior warning or subject to multiple ticketing.

     Actual implementation of the traffic arrangements will be made depending on traffic and crowd conditions in the areas. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site. read more