The task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) continues to work closely with its Mainland counterparts. Most of the anti-epidemic medical supplies have arrived in Hong Kong in good order and have been distributed to frontline personnel and citizens in need through various channels with a view to stabilising the fifth wave of the epidemic.

     A spokesman for the CEDB said today (May 20) that with the staunch support of the Central Government, over 30 types of medical supplies broadly under five main categories, namely testing, personal protection, disinfection, medication and equipment, procured with the co-ordination of the Central Government, have been received.
    
     The supplies include 260 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, over 450 million N95/KN95/surgical/medical masks, around 200 million sets of personal protective equipment (including protective coveralls, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, shoe covers and surgical/examination gloves), and 1.6 million pulse oximeters. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses gratitude to the Central Government for its donation of 600 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines. All of them have been distributed through the Food and Health Bureau to residents subject to "restriction-testing declarations", and through the Hospital Authority to confirmed patients in isolation facilities and those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics.
    
     The task force had earlier provided the Home Affairs Department with over 70 million RAT kits and KN95 masks respectively for distribution to households in Hong Kong via over 3 million anti-epidemic service bags. Millions of additional RAT kits were also made available for collection by people in need at anti-epidemic service bag distribution points. The service bags distributed also included over 7 million boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines procured with the co-ordination of the Central Government. Meanwhile, following the resumption of classes in kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in phases, all students and teaching staff are required to conduct an RAT before returning to school every day. The task force has distributed 10 million RAT kits to schools via the Education Bureau for use by financially needy students.
    
     The remaining supplies will continue to be distributed to frontline personnel of anti-epidemic work, persons with higher infection risks (such as residents subject to "restriction-testing declarations" or living in areas testing positive under sewage tracing) and people working in high-risk industries (such as cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, property management staff, cleaning staff and staff of residential care homes for the elderly) through multiple channels. Relevant supplies are being provided daily to confirmed patients and their close contacts and family members in the form of anti-epidemic kits.
    
     The rest of the medical supplies, such as RAT kits and high-grade protective masks in higher demand, are centrally managed and stored by the Government Logistics Department for use and regular withdrawal by relevant departments to meet their demands in the coming months. The task force will continue to review the situation and adjust in a timely manner the procurement of medical supplies according to the Government's anti-epidemic policies and measures.

     The Chief Executive-elect, Mr John Lee, has continued to meet and exchange views with Legislative Council (LegCo) Members today (May 20) in two sessions, the first session with legislators from the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, and the second with those from the Federation of Hong Kong and Kowloon Labour Unions and the Third Side, as well as some others.

     Mr Lee listened to their views on the new-term Government on a wide range of issues, including fighting the epidemic, resumption of normal travel, economic development, employment, assistance to the unemployed, land and housing as well as youth development.

     Thanking them for the views expressed, Mr Lee also introduced the proposed reorganisation of the government structure during both meetings. He stressed that the reorganisation of bureaux allows individual bureaux to handle issues of public concern in a more focused and detailed manner and generates a synergy effect. The creation of three deputy secretaries of departments also helps to strengthen governance and co-ordination capabilities, facilitate cross-bureau and cross-department co-ordination, and enhance governance efficiency.

     Mr Lee said that representatives of the Office of the Chief Executive-elect would continue to attend LegCo's relevant committee meetings to address legislators' questions and comments. He appealed to all LegCo Members to support the reorganisation proposal and expressed the hope that the relevant legislative and funding procedures could be completed by mid-June, so that the new government structure could take effect on July 1.

    

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (May 20) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members identified as close contacts and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases:
 
     The following are the statistics of patients who tested positive via admission screening or by testing in public hospitals with patients or staff members identified as close contacts:
 

 
     Thorough cleaning and disinfection operations have been performed in the affected areas by the hospitals. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor the health conditions of patients and staff members, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
 
     There have been no clusters of nosocomial infection cases reported in public hospitals today.

     The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (May 20) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus for April was 2.2 per cent and remained at Level 1 at its lowest, indicating that mosquito infestation in the areas surveyed was not extensive.

     Among the 64 survey areas, no area recorded a gravidtrap index exceeding the alert level of 20 per cent. Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in April was 1.1, which represented that an average of 1.1 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not high in the areas surveyed.

     Since March this year, the FEHD has classified the density index for Aedes albopictus into three levels to make it easier for members of the public to grasp the number of adult Aedes albopictus collected in gravidtraps of survey areas. The lowest level is Level 1 (with an index of 1 to 1.5), indicating that the number of Aedes albopictus is not abundant in the locations with positive gravidtraps. Level 2 (with an index of 1.6 to 2.4) indicates that the number of Aedes albopictus is slightly abundant in the locations with positive gravidtraps. The highest level is Level 3 (with an index of 2.5 or above), indicating that the number of Aedes albopictus is abundant in the locations with positive gravidtraps. Specific mosquito prevention and control measures will be initiated in the locations concerned accordingly. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department's website at www.fehd.gov.hk.

     The department reminded members of the public to carry out effective preventive and control measures against mosquitoes early because mosquitoes breed quickly in the hot and rainy summer weather.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "Effective mosquito control requires the sustained effort of all parties concerned. The FEHD and relevant government departments will continue to intensify their mosquito prevention and control work covering areas under their purview and strengthen publicity and education. The FEHD is conducting a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The second phase of the territory-wide campaign, lasting nine weeks, has been launched on April 18 and will run until June 17. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD will target areas that have drawn particular concern to remove accumulated water and to carry out mosquito prevention and control work. After the second phase of the campaign, the FEHD will conduct territory-wide thematic mosquito prevention and control special operations, such as strengthening mosquito control measures at individual construction sites. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have already launched the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations since March 10 to focus on eliminating potential breeding places of mosquitoes. The FEHD has called on property management bodies to arrange necessary repairs to their premises so that the chance of mosquito larvae hatching is reduced, and has conducted intense adult control by regular fogging operations."

     The FEHD appeals to members of the public to work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing the water in vases and scrubbing the inner surfaces, removing the water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.

     Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF) as well as Zika virus infection. DF is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia. The dengue activity in neighbouring areas has remained high.

     The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) today (May 20) released the latest grading of water quality for 38 gazetted beaches (see Note 1) and one non-gazetted beach (i.e. Discovery Bay, see Note 2).     

     Twenty-seven beaches were rated as Good (Grade 1), eight as Fair (Grade 2) and four as Poor (Grade 3).
 
Grade 1 beaches are:         

 
Grade 2 beaches are:

 
Grade 3 beaches are:

     Compared with the grading released last week, Ma Wan Tung Wan Beach has been upgraded from Grade 3 to Grade 2. Butterfly Beach, Cafeteria New Beach, Golden Beach, Shek O Beach and Silver Mine Bay Beach have been changed from Grade 1 to Grade 2, and Hoi Mei Wan Beach from Grade 2 to Grade 3.  
 
     "The changes are generally within the normal range of fluctuation of the bacteriological water quality of the beaches," an EPD spokesman said.
 
     Under the present grading system, beaches are classified into four grades, namely Good (Grade 1), Fair (Grade 2), Poor (Grade 3) and Very Poor (Grade 4), according to the level of E. coli in the water. Grades are calculated on the basis of the geometric mean of the E. coli counts on the five most recent sampling occasions.
 
     While the ratings represent the general water quality at the beaches, the EPD spokesman reminded members of the public that water quality could be temporarily affected during and after periods of heavy rain. Bathers should avoid swimming at beaches for up to three days after a storm or heavy rainfall.
 
     A summary of beach grades is published weekly before the weekend. The latest beach grades based on the most current data may be obtained from the EPD's website on Beach Water Quality (www.epd.gov.hk/epd/beach) or the beach hotline, 2511 6666.
 
Note 1: Lifeguard services are provided by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at 15 gazetted beaches, marked with an asterisk (*) above, from May 5.
 
Note 2: Discovery Bay is a non-gazetted beach without lifeguard service.