SWD announces arrangements for resumption of welfare services

     A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (May 12) announced that, in light of the latest epidemic situation, all welfare services units subsidised by the SWD will resume normal operation starting from May 16. The subsidised services include residential care services, community care services, home care services and centre-based services for the elderly and persons with disabilities, families, youths and communities.
 
     To minimise the risks of infection, various services (such as meal services provided by elderly centres, standardised care needs assessment for elderly services, and family or individual interviews) will still be provided on an appointment basis; groups may be conducted online or in accordance with the prohibition on group gatherings in force at the time under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G).
 
     Service operators should keep their service users informed of the latest arrangements while service users who have the need for the services may also contact the relevant service units. Service operators should continue to provide suitable personal protective equipment for their staff having regard to the relevant guidelines issued by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health. They should put in place measures to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, including keeping the premises clean, requiring service users and staff to wear masks and to wash hands with alcohol-based handrub, and enhancing measures on the screening of body temperatures.
 
     The SWD has announced earlier that all aided child care centres providing day care services for children aged under 3 (including aided standalone child care centres and aided child care centres attached to kindergartens) will gradually resume normal services starting from May 16. The special child care centres will also resume half-day classroom training from May 16.