Thermal imaging machines to record body temperature at boundary crossing

A meeting between Hong Kong and Shenzhen officials today (April 24) agreed to enhance co-operation in a bid to more effectively control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Consensus was reached in three specific areas -

* Shenzhen and Hong Kong will each install 15 infrared thermal imaging machines on both sides of the Lowu boundary control point on Saturday (April 26). Each side will screen its incoming passengers.

* By mid-May, each side will have installed a further 200 infrared thermal imaging machines at the immigration counters at all boundary control points to check the temperature of incoming passengers.

* Both sides agreed to enhance communication and co-operation by having regular visits and exchange of information, with the aim of tightening mutual co-operation in implementing preventive and other measures against SARS.

Hong Kong's Deputy Director of Health, Dr P Y Lam, said the machines to be installed at the control points were very useful for screening purposes.

"If passengers are found to have temperatures higher than normal, they will need to have their temperatures read again to ascertain if they have fever," he said.

In addition to Dr Lam, members of the Hong Kong delegation included the Deputy Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Wong, and representatives from the Department of Health, the Security Bureau, the Immigration Department and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department.

The Shenzhen group included the Vice Secretary General of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Mr Tang Yao Zhi, and representatives of the Shenzhen Entry-exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

The Mayor of Shenzhen, Mr Yu Yaojun, who also met the two delegations, said both sides attached great importance to the quarantine measures at the border.

In another development, the Hong Kong government announced that from tomorrow (April 25), household contacts of suspected SARS patients will have to undergo home confinement for up to 10 days.

Home confinement for household contacts of confirmed SARS patients began on April 10 and this has now been extended to household contacts of suspected SARS patients.

Clinical experience has shown that some suspected patients have become confirmed cases and it will help to contain the spread of the disease if household contacts of these patients can undergo confinement at an early stage.

"We understand that this requirement may bring inconvenience to some families. However, it is necessary to broaden the coverage of home confinement to reduce to a minimum the risk of SARS spreading," a government spokesman said.

End/Thursday, April 24, 2003