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Hong Kong will stand down SARS alert level with effect from April 6, a spokesman for the Department of Health (DH) said today (April 1).
"The decision was made after consultation with the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food and careful assessment of the threat of SARS in Hong Kong and her neighbouring areas," the spokesman said.
Noting that HK's SARS alert level and its corresponding control measures were activated when there was a confirmed SARS case outside Hong Kong last December, the spokesman said the Guangdong health authority had already stepped down their contingency measures on March 19 as there was no more confirmed SARS case in the province since February this year.
"Suitably adjusting the existing SARS control measures could more accurately reflect the actual situation in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.
"We will, however, remain prepared and stay vigilant for the possible reoccurrence of the disease.
"Health screening measures at all immigration control points, including health declaration and bodily temperature checks for travelers will remain unchanged.
"The requirement for doctors to report community-acquired pneumonia patients with history of travel to Guangdong will be waived from April 6," the spokesman said.
The spokesman added that the DH would maintain close communication with their Mainland counterparts on all issues relating to infectious diseases.
Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority (HA) Central Committee on Infectious Disease had met recently and recommended to stand down the Yellow Alert. HA decided to stand down the Yellow Alert on April 6, which had been activated since December 17, 2003.
The existing visiting arrangements to public hospital patients on restricted time and number of visitors have been reviewed and considered appropriate and effective measures of infection control.
However, a more flexible visiting arrangement will be adopted, taking into consideration of the need of patients' relatives and friends.
In all wards, there will be no more than two visitors for each patient at the bed side at any one time. For acute wards, the visiting hours will be no more than four hours per day; and no more than six hours per day for patients in convalescent and infirmary wards.
The "No Visiting" policy will continue to be implemented in isolation wards. For paediatric wards, a more flexible visiting arrangement would be made.
In all circumstances, visitors' details would be recorded to facilitate contact tracing if required.
Children visitors under the age of 12 are generally not permitted in patient care area. Pregnant women are strongly discouraged from visiting the hospitals.
Health advice and information on proper infection control precautions would be made available to visitors at the hospitals.
To safeguard their own health and that of other people, visitors should follow advice from health care staff on infection control.
Visitors should put on masks at ward areas; for other areas, they are encouraged to put on masks when necessary and discard them properly after use. In designated areas or when providing specific clinical service, health care workers would wear surgical mask; and patients with respiratory symptoms are also required to put on masks.
At Accident & Emergency Departments, temperature check will be continued for all patients, while segregation will only be required for patients with suspicion of serious infectious diseases.
The spokesman further stated that the recommendations made by the SARS Expert Committee are being implemented with a view to safeguarding public health.
"Preparation for the establishment of a Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is in full swing and DH's Deputy Director, Dr PY Leung, has been appointed as CHP's Controller.
"It is expected that the CHP can commence operation in June. It will be an important milestone to achieve effective prevention and control of diseases in Hong Kong.
"Priority efforts will be made by CHP to strengthen communicable disease surveillance and standardization of infection control protocols in various settings," the spokesman said.
Other measures including the provision of upgraded isolation wards in 14 hospitals totaling 1 200 beds and the enhanced training programmes for professional health care and medical workers in public health further ensured Hong Kong is well prepared for SARS and other communicable diseases.
The spokesman reiterated that Hong Kong will continue to maintain close and proactive liaison with public health authorities of the Mainland, Macau and other countries as well as the World Health Organisation with the ultimate purpose of detecting, preventing and controlling of communicable diseases.
Ends/Thursday, April 1, 2004
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