Update on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Preventive Measures (只有英文版)

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on March 11 that the COVID-19 outbreak can be described as a pandemic. According to WHO, at least 72 countries/areas have reported locally transmitted cases. Large scale outbreaks with active community transmissions are occurring in Korea, Italy and Iran.  In response to the call on avoiding all non-essential travel outside Hong  Kong by the Department of Health, the Committee would like to invite staff members and students to consider adjusting any planned travel outside Hong Kong.

Please note that the HKSAR Government issued  a  Red Outbound Travel Alert on the following countries / areas due to the health risks arising from the COVID-19 outbreak.

*Schengen Area including  Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Principality of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Republic of Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland

The Department of Health will also issue quarantine orders under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap.599A) for compulsory home quarantine to  people arriving in Hong Kong who have been to the following countries in the past 14 days, regardless of whether they are Hong Kong residents.

Please note that contravening the quarantine requirement would be a criminal offence. For details, please refer to:  https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202002/07/P2020020700674.htm .

In view of the latest situation of COVID-19 overseas, the Centre for Health Protection has updated the relevant reporting criteria as follows to enhance surveillance of suspected cases.

1.            Presented with fever or acute respiratory illness or pneumonia; and

2.            Either one of the following conditions within 14 days before onset of symptom:

·                  With travel history to a place with active community transmission of COVID-19; or

·                  Had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19

All students and colleagues  are requested to complete an online declaration form before coming to campus.

For students: please click here.

For staff: please click here.

Students and colleagues are advised to  wear masks on campus, especially when having face-to-face communication with others,  avoid social gathering and maintain appropriate social distance with other people as far as possible. If feeling unwell, you should wear a surgical mask and seek medical consultation promptly and inform the doctor of your travel history. It is advised to go to the nearest emergency room of any public hospital. The closest one to our campus is Tuen Mun Hospital. You might also go to the private clinics which join the  Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Programme of Hospital Authority and can produce deep throat saliva.  For the list of collection points for submission of specimens by patients of private doctors for COVID-19 testing, please click the links below.

https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/list_of_collection_points_tc.pdf

https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/list_of_collection_points_en.pdf

In response to the latest development, the following measures are implementing on campus:

·                  Increased frequency of cleaning of public facilities;

·                  Increased points of hand sanitizer;   

·                  Encourage students, staff and visitors to rub hands with hand sanitizer at each access point of campus;

·                  Body temperature check at all pedestrian and vehicular entrances;

·                  Masks will be provided to those students and colleagues who do not have masks after completing a simple health survey at the counter of hostel blocks and at access points upon entry to campus area.    Colleagues and students are strongly recommended to bring their own masks.

To prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection, colleagues and students should maintain at all times strict personal and environmental hygiene  which is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community  and stay alert on the following advice of Centre for Health Protection (CHP):

•  Wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask;

•  Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; after touching public installations such as handrails or door knobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing;

•  Maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly (about once a week) pour about half a liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene;

•  After using the toilet, put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs;

•  Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, performing hand hygiene with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub is an effective alternative;

•  Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and

•  When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, refrain from work or attending class at school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.

The Government has launched the website “COVID-19 Thematic Website” for announcing the latest updates on various news on COVID-19 infection and health advice to help the public grasp the latest updates at the following links:  www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html

Webpage on Personal Hygiene (proper hand hygiene, proper use of mask, guidance note on monitoring of body temperature) at the following links:

        https://www.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/460/19899.html

Hong Kong residents are encouraged to use the online Registration of Outbound Travel Information service at  http://www.gov.hk/roti   to register their contact details and itinerary when outside Hong Kong. For updates on Outbound Travel Alert (OTA), please visit the webpage of Security Bureau at  https://www.sb.gov.hk/eng/ota/

If you are being suspected or confirmed infected or under mandatory quarantine, please notify any of the following teams:

Thank you for your kind attention.

Best Regards
Weixin Shang

Chairman, Health, Safety and Environment Committee