Author Archives: hksar gov

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (July 21) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, July 21, the CHP was investigating 4 076 additional locally acquired cases tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, including 1 496 cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests (665 confirmed cases, 690 asymptomatic cases and 141 cases with pending case status) and 2 580 cases tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) verified in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 299 additional imported cases were reported, including 287 cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests (17 confirmed cases, 216 asymptomatic cases and 54 cases with pending case status) and 12 cases tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 802 577 and 506 631 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 on the cases. Please refer to the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.

     Meanwhile, according to the analysis by the DH’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, as of yesterday (July 20), Hong Kong had recorded a total of 19 cases, 1 441 cases and 1 180 cases carrying the sub-lineages BA.2.12, BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 under the Omicron mutant strain respectively (including suspected cases), among which zero, 1 212 and 470 of them are local cases.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, July 21, a total of 9 235 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 157 and 75 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 9 448 death cases that have 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, the total number of confirmed cases was 347 859, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 219 703, 24 and 233 208 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that as the local situation of COVID-19 infection is still severe, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     â€‹The spokesman reminded 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 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

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (July 21) received notification from the National Health Commission of a bubonic plague case in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and is closely monitoring the situation.

     The case involves a 45-year-old male patient living in Yinchuan. He worked on a farm in Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He developed symptoms on July 12 and was confirmed to have bubonic plague on July 19. The patient is currently in stable condition.

     A spokesman for the CHP said, “Plague is transmitted from an infected animal (mainly rodents) to humans through the bite of its fleas. Plague can also be contracted when cuts or other breaks in the skin come into contact with the body fluid or tissue of infected animals. Consumption of infected animal tissues and inhalation of infected respiratory droplets are also a possible mode of transmission.”

     The spokesman explained that bubonic plague is a kind of plague which is not usually transmitted directly from person to person unless there is contact with pus from suppurating buboes. Patients infected with bubonic plague usually present with fever, headache and painful swelling of the regional lymph nodes, especially around the groin. The infection can progress to septicaemic plague when the bacteria invade the blood stream.

     The spokesman reminded travellers to avoid visiting plague-endemic areas. They should also heighten vigilance on rodents and prevent flea bites. Insect repellents against mosquitoes may equally prevent flea bites and deter blood-sucking insects. Formulations in lotions or sprays should contain DEET, IR3535 or icaridin (also known as picaridin) as active ingredients. The public should refer to the CHP’s tips for using insect repellents.

     “Travellers returning from affected areas with a sudden onset of fever, shaking chills, body pains or chest discomfort should seek medical advice as soon as possible and reveal their travel history for prompt investigation and management. Plague is a statutorily notifiable disease and doctors should report suspected or confirmed cases to the CHP for investigations and control,” the spokesman added.

     Travellers should take heed of the health advice below during travel:
 

• Prevent flea bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and applying insect repellent/insecticide. DEET-containing insect repellent can be applied to exposed skin and clothing, while insecticide containing permethrin can be applied to clothing, not the skin;
• Avoid going to rural areas, camping or hunting;
• Never eat or touch rodents, dead animals and their tissues or contaminated materials;
• Avoid close contact with patients, especially those with cough or chest infection;
• Avoid going to crowded areas;
• Seek medical care immediately in case of a sudden onset of fever, chills, painful lymph nodes, difficulty in breathing with coughing and/or blood-tainted sputum; and
• Consult a doctor immediately after contact or exposure to pneumonic plague patients or high-risk exposures, such as bites from fleas or direct contact with body fluids or tissues of potentially infected animals, for prompt assessment of the need for preventive medication.

     Travellers may visit the CHP’s plague page, Travel Health News and the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s advice on rodent control for details. read more

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) said today (July 21) that, due to the continued occurrence of confirmed cases among residents and/or staff members in residential care homes (RCHs) under the recent fluctuating epidemic situation, the Government after careful consideration will implement new visiting and staff testing arrangements to safeguard the health of residents, staff and visitors.
      
(A) RCH visitation
      
     From August 1, onwards, all visitors (except for official visitors) are required to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 (PCR tests) prior to the visit and provide negative PCR test results obtained within 48 hours 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.
      
     In addition, from August 28, onwards, the vaccination requirements for visitors to RCHs will be enhanced. Visitors are required to be vaccinated according to the Government’s latest COVID-19 vaccination requirements as set out in the Vaccine Pass:
 

(1) Ordinary persons:	(a) Received three doses of vaccine; or (b) Within six months after having received the second dose of vaccine.
(2) Recovered persons:	(a) Received three or two doses of vaccine; (b) Within six months after recovery; (c) Within six months after having received the first dose of vaccine after recovery; or (d) Aged 12 to 17 and received one dose of Fosun Pharma/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty vaccine).

          
     The current arrangements for persons who need to conduct emergency visits based on compassionate grounds will remain unchanged, i.e. visitors are still required to obtain negative results from rapid antigen tests (RATs) conducted in the designated area of the RCHs, and to provide negative results from PCR tests to RCHs within two days after the visit.
      
(B) Testing arrangements for RCH staff
      
     To strengthen RCHs’ anti-epidemic barrier and protect RCH residents, the Government will require all RCH staff, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated, to undergo PCR tests once every seven days starting from July 27 (i.e. the 73rd round of compulsory testing). To facilitate PCR testing among staff members, the Government will arrange designated testing operators to deliver PCR testing kits to the RCHs as necessary so that the staff can take samples on their own, and to collect these samples on designated dates. Staff members may also go for free PCR testing at Community Testing Centres or mobile specimen collection stations across the territory and be provided with priority testing by identifying themselves and displaying relevant identification to the staff at testing stations. Meanwhile, to safeguard the safety of staff and residents, all RCH staff are still required to perform daily RATs on their own and obtain a negative result before attending work at RCHs.
      
     The Government will review the anti-epidemic measures from time to time and make adjustments to the testing policy.
      
     The Government understands that the new measures will bring some inconvenience to the residents and their families as well as the RCH operators and staff members, and appeals to all concerned to continue co-operation with the Government to achieve the prime objective of protecting the residents. read more

     The Civil Service Bureau today (July 21) held the fourth session on “Spirit of the President’s Important Speech” at the Central Government Offices. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended as keynote speaker. The session was conducted to enable the participants to obtain a deeper understanding of the spirit of the important speech delivered by President Xi Jinping at the meeting celebrating the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland and the inaugural ceremony of the sixth-term Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
      
     Over the past two weeks, the Chief Executive has addressed a series of four sessions as keynote speaker in person. Over 1 200 participants took part in these sessions, including Secretaries of Departments, Deputy Secretaries of Departments, Directors of Bureaux and other Principal Officials, Executive Council members, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Departments and directorate officers at various ranks. Apart from civil servants from bureaux and departments, the participants also included senior officers from organisations such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority.
      
     Mr Lee said that President Xi’s speech was an important milestone of high significance and serves as crucial guidance on governance by the HKSAR Government in the coming five years. It is incumbent on the top echelon and civil servants of the HKSAR Government to grasp in full the core essence of President Xi’s important speech and build it into their own work. Mr Lee encouraged colleagues to perform their best with a pragmatic and can-do attitude; make concerted efforts to enhance governance capacity and efficacy; proactively integrate Hong Kong into the country’s overall development and raise Hong Kong’s competitiveness; adopt a result-oriented approach in their work; respond actively to aspirations from the people of Hong Kong; and respect and safeguard the country’s fundamental systems on their own volition.
      
     The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, also shared her thoughts and feelings at the session. Some other participants shared their views at the session as well.
      
     About 420 participants, mainly comprising civil servants at the ranks of Directorate Pay Scale Points 1 and 2, attended the session today.
      
     Various bureaux and departments will also conduct sessions on the President’s important speech for their staff so as to enable more colleagues from different ranks to grasp the core essence of President Xi’s important speech, build the spirit of the speech into their own work, and see to its manifestation in the policy objectives and initiatives under their respective purview.

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     An exhibition entitled “City Rhymes: The Melodious Notes of Calligraphy” will be held from tomorrow (July 22) at the Hong Kong Museum of Art (HKMoA). The exhibition features over 70 artworks by Hong Kong artists from the collection of the HKMoA. Through the perspectives of poetry, dance, painting and music, the exhibition allows audiences to enjoy a journey to explore the relationship between calligraphy and life, while discovering calligraphy-inspired contemporary artworks. The exhibition brings together artists from a wide range of disciplines, offering a diverse and extraordinary viewing experience that presents the unique aesthetics of calligraphy.
 
     Chinese calligraphy is the only script-based form of art that has thrived for over a millennium in the course of human civilisation. From purely a medium of communication, it has evolved into an embodiment of an abstract aesthetic that represents the calligrapher’s spirit and sentiments.
 
     This exhibition showcases different calligraphy scripts. Highlighted exhibits include “Poem in seal script” by Deng Erya, “Couplet in regular script” by Au Kin-kung, “Poem of orchid in clerical script” by Ou Dawei, “Couplet in clerical script” by Luo Shuzhong, “Gold calligraphy in oracle bone script” by Jao Tsung-i, “Poem in running script” by Chao Shao-an, and “Lyrics of Tourbillon by Wyman Wong in cursive script” by Chui Pui-chee. By exploring the interplay between calligraphy, prose and poetry, dance, painting and music, the exhibition offers visitors a unique opportunity to discover the essence of calligraphic works through the lens of their own knowledge and interests. They can also re-examine the significance of preserving and continuing cultural traditions amid the rapid advances in technology.
 
     Works by local artists of different disciplines are also featured, echoing the calligraphic works in the exhibition. Director Cheuk Cheung and choreographer Ong Yong-lock created a dance video installation, in which the dancer echoes each stroke of the calligraphy with force, posture, and rhythm. Composer and sound artist Alain Chiu created a series of sound works, with an ingenious melody that flows through the gallery, echoing the lively brushwork. Multimedia artist Ng Tsz-kwan captured the 3D information of calligraphers using volumetric video, and recreated their movements with 3D animation techniques on two projection walls to stimulate the viewer’s imagination. A number of writers, poets, artists, and scholars have responded to the calligraphic works through writings or videos based on their professional expertise and personal experiences.
 
     The exhibition will run from July 22 to September 17 next year at the Hong Kong Art Gallery on the second floor of the HKMoA (10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon). For details of the exhibition and admission arrangements, please visit the website at hk.art.museum/en_US/web/ma/exhibitions-and-events/city-rhymes-the-melodious-notes-of-calligraphy.html or call 2721 0116.
 
     In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, visitors are required to scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the museum for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the relevant requirements of the Vaccine Pass.

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