More than 700 new confirmed cases in Hong Kong a week, SAR government tightens quarantine exemption arrangements

(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) More than 700 new confirmed cases in Hong Kong a week, the SAR government tightens quarantine exemption arrangements

　　China News Service, Hong Kong, July 26 (Reporter Zhang Xiaoxi) The Health Protection Center of the Department of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced on the 26th that as of 0:00 on the 26th, there were 128 new confirmed cases of new coronary pneumonia in Hong Kong, of which 103 were local infections. More than 700 newly confirmed cases have been newly confirmed, and the cumulative number of confirmed cases has increased to 2,633. In view of the current epidemic situation, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced on the 26th that it will tighten the quarantine exemption arrangements from July 29th.

　　At a briefing on the latest situation of new coronary pneumonia cases held that day, Zhang Zhujun, director of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Center for Health Protection of the Department of Health, introduced that of the new local infections, 68 were related to previously confirmed cases, of which 47 were related to previously confirmed family members. , Relatives or friends eating together, 11 cases involved contact with the infection through the workplace; the source of the other 35 cases is unknown.

　　In terms of local homes for the elderly, Zhang Chukjun said that another 7 elders and 1 employee at the Golden Branch of the Kanghe Nursing Center in Tuen Mun Sanxu were diagnosed, and another 13 were initially diagnosed. The entire hospital needs to evacuate and undergo quarantine; There are also new confirmed cases in residential care homes in Ling and Sham Shui Po. As for the 25 imported cases, they involved seafarers and helpers who arrived in Hong Kong from the Philippines, India, and the United Kingdom.

　　Yu Huiling, Chief Administrative Manager (Medical Effectiveness and Technology Management) of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, reported that there are currently 908 confirmed patients in 14 hospitals in Hong Kong, of which 40 are in critical condition, 25 are in serious condition, and the remaining 843 are in stable condition. Public hospitals have opened 649 negative pressure wards with a total of 1207 negative pressure beds, and the usage was 82.4% and 77.1% respectively.

　　The Deputy Director of the Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Xu Deyi, attended the briefing that day and said that starting from July 29, the Special Administrative Region Government will suspend all passenger ships and cargo ships that are not handling cargo loading and unloading in Hong Kong. The inspection and quarantine arrangements for the shift crew, flight crew members and other persons exempted from quarantine on arrival and departure of cargo ships loading and unloading.

　　For cargo ships coming to Hong Kong for cargo loading and unloading, it specifically includes: during the stay in Hong Kong waters, all crew members must stay on board and not land on shore; off-ship crew members who need to change shifts must stay on board during the stay in Hong Kong until arrangements are made The transportation means go directly to the airport to board the plane and return to its destination, thereby avoiding contact with the local community; crew members who arrive at Hong Kong via the airport and change shifts from other places must obtain a negative nucleic acid test within 48 hours before leaving the place of departure.

　　For flight crews who need to perform their duties between Hong Kong and the Mainland, Macau, Taiwan or foreign regions, as well as all other people who are exempt from quarantine via the airport, they must obtain a negative nucleic acid test result within 48 hours before departure, otherwise they will come to Hong Kong You must go to the temporary sample collection center of the Department of Health to collect deep throat saliva samples, and wait for the test results at the collection center or designated location.

　　Xu Deyi said that the new crown pneumonia epidemic is still very unstable and urged the public to suspend gatherings and try to stay at home. He also pointed out that three people working in the Sheung Shui slaughterhouse were initially diagnosed with new coronary pneumonia, but the three people were not responsible for the slaughter work. The SAR government has stepped up cleaning and disinfection of the relevant places. (Finish)