The Mainland epidemic prevention and control expert delegation deployed by the Central Authorities continued its visits in Hong Kong today (April 19). They visited the Hong Kong International Airport, Tin Shui Wai (Tin Yip Road) Community Health Centre and the Sham Shui Po District Health Centre (DHC) to have a better grasp of the relevant epidemic prevention measures being adopted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.
In the morning, the expert delegation visited the Hong Kong International Airport and toured the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre One set up at the T1 Midfield Concourse to understand more about the quarantine measures and testing arrangements for inbound travellers put in place by the HKSAR Government. The expert delegation also shared Mainland's experience related to the prevention of importation of cases.
The expert delegation, joined by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, then proceeded to visit the Tin Shui Wai (Tin Yip Road) Community Health Centre. During the visit, Cluster Chief Executive of New Territories West Cluster of the Hospital Authority, Dr Simon Tang, introduced the roles of designated clinic, including treating confirmed patients with mild symptoms, prescribing COVID-19 oral drugs according to clinical guidelines and providing health information to patients. The Mainland experts also exchanged with clinicians experience on treating COVID-19 patients.
The expert delegation visited the Sham Shui Po DHC in the afternoon. Staff of the Sham Shui Po DHC introduced to the expert delegation the epidemic prevention and control work DHCs carried out at the district level, including providing COVID-19 vaccination service, distributing anti-epidemic kits, disseminating COVID-19-related health information, organising anti-epidemic education activities and providing hotline support service to the public. Besides, DHCs started to provide free rapid antigen test kits to elderly service recipients aged 60 or above from today, so as to support and encourage them to undergo testing more frequently. The delegation also inspected the relevant service arrangement.
"The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to focus on the anti-epidemic strategies of reducing deaths, severe cases and infections. By enhancing the public hospitals' capability on treatment within a short period of time; and adopting multi-tiered triage and treatment strategy having regard to the severity of COVID-19 patients' medical condition, we can focus resources on treatment to patients. At the same time, we also strengthened medical support to patients at the community level to prevent patients from developing into severe condition. DHCs have been actively involving in promoting and participating in various anti-epidemic work at district level. The centres are working in line with the Government's epidemic control measures by providing information, and health education; as well as serving the public actively to fight the epidemic together. We are sparing no effort in curbing this wave of the epidemic and safeguarding citizens' lives," Professor Chan said.
Led by the Director of the National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Mr Kan Biao, the expert delegation arrived Hong Kong on April 7 to start their work.
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