China News Service, Hong Kong, July 23. Zhang Jianzong, Chief Secretary of Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, visited AsiaWorld-Expo (Asian Expo) on the 23rd to inspect the preparations for the newly added quarantine and community treatment facilities. It is reported that the preparation work has been roughly completed and the service can be put into service as soon as tomorrow.
According to the Information Service of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Zhang Jianzong visited the venues that will be used as temporary quarantine centers for elderly homes and community treatment facilities on the same day and listened to staff briefings on the progress of preparations, including inspection of ventilation systems and additional hospital beds and other necessary equipment.
He learned that the temporary quarantine center for residential care homes for the elderly will have nursing staff on duty 24 hours a day, and a dedicated person will be responsible for the daily living of the quarantined person. The first venue can accommodate 100 beds. The preparations have been roughly completed, and it can be put into service as soon as tomorrow. As for the second venue reserved for expansion, it can accommodate about 150 to 200 beds.
Zhang Jianzong said that in the past two weeks, the epidemic in Hong Kong has been severe, with a significant increase in local infections and infections in residential care homes for the elderly. In order to make full preparations, the SAR government has decided to set up additional temporary quarantine centers and community treatment facilities for residents of residential care homes for the elderly in AsiaWorld-Expo, so as to assist existing facilities when necessary.
He pointed out that if close contacts of confirmed cases have special medical needs, they are not suitable for admission to general quarantine centers. Therefore, it is necessary to set up specific temporary quarantine centers for residents of residential care homes for the elderly. As for community treatment facilities, patients with suitable clinical conditions and relevant conditions can be accepted, thereby alleviating the pressure of demand for isolation beds in public hospitals, allowing public hospitals to focus on patients with more serious illnesses.
Zhang Jianzong also mentioned that the SAR government has introduced a number of measures in the past few days to contain the epidemic, and has tested four types of higher-risk groups for the new crown virus, including nursing homes for the elderly, disabled homes and nursing home employees. He emphasized that the fight against the epidemic is a protracted battle, and the process is undoubtedly very difficult. Citizens need to stay at home for a long time, wear masks indoors and outdoors, and maintain social distancing, and this is not the time to relax. (Finish)