(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has adopted various measures to deal with a new wave of epidemics that may emerge
China News Service, Hong Kong, September 18 (Reporter Zhang Xiaoxi) The Director of the Food and Health Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Chen Zhaoshi, said on the 18th that the fourth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong is expected to occur this winter, to ensure that the local medical system and related arrangements are adequate to deal with For the new wave of epidemics, the SAR government has launched a series of preparations, including strengthening epidemic surveillance and virus detection, and adding standby quarantine and isolation facilities.
On the same day, Chen Zhaoshi met with the media at the headquarters of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and said that the Special Administrative Region Government is preparing for a possible new wave of epidemics, including adjusting cross-border control measures according to risks, comprehensively strengthening epidemic surveillance and virus testing, and tracking close contacts. , Increase standby quarantine and isolation facilities, maintain social distancing, and vaccine procurement and vaccination.
In terms of strengthening epidemic surveillance and virus detection, Chen Zhaoshi pointed out that the current detection capacity of Hong Kong's public testing services has increased to more than 7,000 daily.
If necessary, the Department of Health of the SAR Government and the Hong Kong Hospital Authority will purchase testing services from local private laboratories to strengthen public testing capabilities.
In addition, in order to facilitate citizens with a higher risk of infection or mild discomfort to receive free testing, starting on the 18th, the number of general outpatient clinics that distribute sample collection kits in Hong Kong will increase from 22 to 31, and will increase to more than 40 rooms.
She emphasized that after the community testing program is popularized, testing for specific groups in Hong Kong will become regular.
For high-risk groups such as employees in residential care homes for the elderly, homes for the disabled and nursing homes; high-contact groups such as public transport drivers (including taxi drivers), frontline employees in the catering industry, and market stall workers; key services Personnel such as slaughterhouse workers and designated front-line employees of container terminals, etc., depending on the needs of epidemic prevention, will regularly conduct repeated or sampling tests for them.
She also pointed out that the SAR government is also well prepared. Once an outbreak occurs in the community, it will conduct surprise testing based on regions or individual groups more quickly, and will reserve two more places at the Asia World Expo (AsiaWorld Expo). Two venues serve as quarantine centers for homes for the elderly and homes for the disabled.
Regarding the addition of standby quarantine and isolation facilities, Chen Zhaoshi said that Junyang Village, which was previously used as a quarantine center, will be suspended as soon as the end of September, and the second phase of Penny's Bay will be completed by the end of September, providing 700 units; The third and fourth phases of Penny's Bay will be completed by the end of this year, providing 2,000 units.
In addition, Lei Yue Mun Park Resort will continue to be used as a quarantine center, and the SAR government will rent the entire hotel for close contacts.
With various facilities, Hong Kong will have more than 4,000 units used for quarantine purposes before the end of this year.
Chen Zhaoshi also stated that with the support of the central government, the SAR government is further expanding the community treatment facilities at AsiaWorld-Expo, striving to allocate about 1,000 additional hospital beds within a few weeks, and on approximately three hectares of land adjacent to AsiaWorld-Expo. The construction of a two-story temporary hospital that complies with Hong Kong laws and regulations and provides a negative pressure ward with more than 800 beds is expected to be completed in about 4 months.
Chen Zhaoshi said that due to the slowdown of the third wave of the epidemic, the SAR government has gradually and orderly relaxed social distancing measures, but the degree of relaxation cannot reach the level of June this year. Restaurants and markets will continue to strengthen epidemic prevention.
She also once again urged Hong Kong citizens to maintain personal and environmental hygiene at all times, wear masks, pay attention to hand hygiene, and maintain social distancing when going out.
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