The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (January 3) visited the West Kowloon Station of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link to inspect the prevention measures adopted at the boundary control point in response to the cluster of pneumonia cases detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

     Accompanied by the Secretary for Food and Heath, Professor Sophia Chan, Mrs Lam was briefed by officers of the Port Health Division of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health at the boundary control point on health surveillance measures. Such measures include the provision of health information, body temperature checks on inbound travellers by the thermal imaging system and following up on travellers with fevers. Mrs Lam also spoke with front-line officers to learn more about the enforcement of prevention and control measures, expressing her gratitude for their hard work in safeguarding the health of citizens and travellers.

     Mrs Lam then proceeded to the public area of the station to inspect the enhanced cleaning work adopted by the MTR Corporation in response to the recent situation, and thanked staff for their work.

     Mrs Lam said that although no serious pneumonia cases related to those in Wuhan have been detected in Hong Kong so far, the Government has strengthened prevention and control measures in many areas, such as enhancing health surveillance measures at all boundary control points. Furthermore, the Hospital Authority and the Department of Health have also informed their healthcare staff to stay vigilant. Mrs Lam added that all relevant government departments have been well prepared and have made necessary arrangements. The Government will also announce daily the number of cases meeting the enhanced surveillance measures to increase transparency. She also appealed to members of the public to strengthen personal and environmental hygiene standards. Travellers who present with respiratory symptoms should wear surgical masks, seek medical attention and reveal their travel history to doctors.

Ends/Friday, January 3, 2020
Issued at HKT 19:43

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