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The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman today (June 12) announced that the HA will lower the existing influenza response level from "Serious" to "Alert" to dovetail with the Government's Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic.
Under the Alert Response Level, members of the public are reminded that the following measures will be implemented in public hospitals and clinics from tomorrow (June 13):
- Visiting hours will return to not more than four hours per day and not more than two visitors per visit for all acute wards, and not more than six hours per day and not more than two visitors for all convalescent hospitals;
- Visitors, patients and staff with respiratory symptoms are required to wear surgical masks in the patient areas of public hospitals and clinics;
- All staff members, patients and visitors are required to practise good hand hygiene at all times; and
- All volunteer services and clinical attachment are allowed.
"Posters and notices will be displayed in public hospitals and clinics to remind members of the public of the stepping down of the response level and the corresponding revised arrangements. The triage assessment for fever patients with respiratory symptoms will remain unchanged and continue at Accident and Emergency Departments and General Outpatient Clinics," the spokesman said.
"In close collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection, we will stay vigilant to monitor the latest developments of the influenza and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome situation and the need to update measures. We will continue to keep the general public and health-care professionals informed of the updated situation and provide relevant information," the spokesman remarked.
Ends/Thursday, June 12, 2014
Issued at HKT 20:04
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