A spokesman for the Government today (February 9) said, with the developments and changes of the novel coronavirus infection, it is necessary for the Government to ensure sufficient quarantine facilities for combatting the disease.

     Currently, the occupancy of three quarantine centres, namely the MacLehose Holiday Village, the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village and Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp, has reached their maximum capacity. The Government is actively preparing to convert the Heritage Lodge of the Jao Tsung-I Academy into the fourth quarantine centre.

     Regarding the plan to use Chun Yeung Estate as a quarantine centre, closely followed by meeting with the residents in the neighbourhood yesterday afternoon to explain the relevant use, representatives from the Food and Health Bureau (FHB), the Department of Health and the Housing Department today briefed the members of the Sha Tin District Council about the arrangement of the quarantine centre.

     Moreover, representatives from the FHB earlier attended the Sham Shui Po District Council meeting on February 5 to explain the use of the Jao Tsung-I Academy as a quarantine centre and listened to their views.

     When searching for the sites, the Government has thoroughly considered whether the facilities meet the requirements for a quarantine centre including location, overall facilities and infrastructure, environment, the possible impact to the residents nearby, as well as the time required for its operation. It will also ensure that the operation of the quarantine centres meets the stringent requirements.

     Security and healthcare staff will be on duty round the clock in the quarantine centres. Transfer service for leaving and entering the centres will be provided to people under quarantine, who will not take part in any community activities. Entry into and departure from the quarantine centres are not allowed without written permission of health personnel.

     According to the prevailing measures, patients confirmed to have been infected with or suspected to be infected by the novel coronavirus will be admitted to hospitals for isolation and treatment. Whether being arranged to stay at quarantine centres or to be put under compulsory home quarantine, they are not confirmed or suspected cases. They are close contacts of confirmed cases or those have been to Hubei Province in the past 14 days, and without any symptoms.

     In order to prevent the transmission of the disease in the community with a view to achieving the highest effectiveness of the compulsory quarantine measures, the co-operation of the whole community is indispensable, the spokesman added. The setting up of quarantine centres not only protects those under quarantine, but also safeguards everybody's health. Thus, it is hoped that the whole community can fight the disease together.

     Regarding some District Council members not allowing participating Government officers to leave after the end of the around four-hour meeting today, the spokesman expressed regret and reiterated the importance of rational discussion.   

Ends/Sunday, February 9, 2020
Issued at HKT 22:01

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