Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) said today (September 2) that, due to the continued occurrence of confirmed cases among residents and/or staff members in residential care homes (RCHs), visitors’ testing requirements prior to their visits to RCHs will be updated according to the advice of the health authorities in order to safeguard the health of frail elderly people and persons with disabilities in RCHs.

     From September 5 onwards, all visitors (except for official visitors), apart from continuing to fulfil the Government’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements as set out in the Vaccine Pass, are required to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 (PCR tests), with the specimen collected from the visitor within 48 hours prior to the visit, and provide negative PCR test results in order to visit RCHs.

     Visitors may opt for Community Testing Centres (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) or mobile specimen collection stations (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/station/), where free testing services will be provided if they indicate to the staff on-site that the purpose of the testing is for fulfilling the requirements for visiting RCHs. Visitors can also undergo self-arranged testing at their own expense at private laboratories that are recognised by the Department of Health (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf) and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results. The relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs and must not be taken by the person to be tested. Taking into account the epidemic developments and the protection of RCH residents as the priority target group, recovered persons who have tested positive in the past three months are also required to undergo the above PCR tests.

     The Government understands that the relevant arrangement may bring inconvenience to the residents and their families, and appeals to all parties concerned to co-operate with the Government to achieve the prime objective of protecting the residents. read more

     The Health Bureau announced today (September 2) that the number of Voluntary Health Insurance Scheme (VHIS) policies has exceeded 1 million with the support of citizens after three years of implementation, signifying a new milestone for the development of medical insurance in Hong Kong.

     Even though the overall medical insurance market has been affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the VHIS recorded steady growth. The latest verified figures show that the number of policies of the Certified Plans has reached 1 045 000 (as at March 31 this year) after three years of implementation of the VHIS. Among all, more than half (53 per cent) of the insured persons are below the age of 40, and about one-third (33 per cent) are under 30. It is encouraging to note that the VHIS has been effective in attracting younger individuals to take out insurance policies and prepare for their future medical needs.

     As reflected by the latest figures, most of the insurance claims (93 per cent) in 2021 were successful, with around 39 per cent of them receiving full reimbursement, around 65 per cent having a reimbursement ratio of 90 per cent or above, and around 78 per cent having a reimbursement ratio of 80 per cent or above. For all claim cases in the entire year, the overall reimbursement ratio of VHIS insurance claims averaged around 89 per cent. This demonstrates that the VHIS can provide sufficient protection to insured persons, and is of substantial help to citizens in covering their medical expenses and using medical services with ease.

     The Government expressed gratitude to the insurance sector for their active participation in the VHIS by offering diversified products to cater for the needs of different consumers. As at August 31 this year, 86 Certified Plans are available in the market, including 32 Standard Plans and 54 Flexi Plans (of which relevant products provide protection beyond that of the Standard Plans), with a total of 385 product options for public’s selection.

     The VHIS is attractive in various aspects, including guaranteed renewal up to the age of 100 regardless of any change in the health conditions of the insured persons, no limit on “lifetime benefit”, coverage extended to unknown pre-existing conditions and day case surgical procedures (including endoscopy), and more. Furthermore, taxpayers who pay the premium for themselves or specified relatives (including spouse and children, as well as the taxpayer’s or his/her spouse’s grandparents, parents and siblings) can claim tax deductions.

     A Government spokesman said, “Since its full implementation on April 1, 2019, the VHIS aims to offer more options and facilitate citizens’ access to regulated health insurance products and private healthcare services. We will review the effectiveness of the scheme from time to time in a bid to ensure that the VHIS can effectively achieve its intended objectives.

     “The Government will continue to work closely with the insurance sector and refine the VHIS in a timely manner, such as the benefit items, service charges and claim limits under the coverage. This is to ensure that the VHIS can keep abreast with the latest trends in the healthcare market, thus providing sufficient protection to our citizens through the Certified Plans under the scheme.

     “The viability of the VHIS hinges on the pricing of private healthcare services. The latter also determines citizens’ access to private healthcare services when they are in need, thereby alleviating the burden on the public healthcare system. We will strive to enhance the price transparency of private healthcare services and protect the welfare of patients.”

     The Government encourages citizens to purchase suitable VHIS products based on their actual needs, so as to secure protection for themselves and their family members for rainy days. The VHIS website (www.vhis.gov.hk) has set up a Consumer Corner to enable citizens to make comparisons of the details, features and premium information of the products offered by various insurance companies, and hence choose the Certified Plans that best suit their needs and budget. read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      As at 0.00am today (September 2), a total of 2 667 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 350 new patients. … read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The Hospital Authority today (September 2) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff m… read more

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 2) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, September 2, the CHP was investigating 9 714 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 2 818 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (1 329 confirmed cases, 1 238 asymptomatic cases and 251 cases with pending status) and 6 896 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 187 additional imported cases were reported, including 167 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (25 confirmed cases, 86 asymptomatic cases and 56 cases with pending status) and 20 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 893 732 and 667 558 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations of the cases. Please refer to the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.

     â€‹Among the specimens received by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch during August 24 to 30 for verification testing of local cases, about 6.7 per cent and 54.7 per cent of them (seven-day moving average) are related to the sub-lineages BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) of the Omicron mutant strain respectively.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, September 2, a total of 9 496 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 415 and 78 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as three deaths reported from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 9 709 death cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (September 1), the total number of confirmed cases was 387 393, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 264 424, 31 and 238 899 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that the local situation of COVID-19 infection is severe with the number of cases tested positive growing at an increased pace. The CHP strongly appeals to the community to strictly comply with social distancing measures and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or mass gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     â€‹â€‹â€‹The spokesman reminded the public that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who have yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients, children, and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected. read more