CE visits Social Welfare Department and elderly home (with photos/video)
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Mrs Lam visited the Integrated Family Service Centre of the SWD to learn about how colleagues help people under home quarantine who are unable to resolve daily needs on their own, for example, elderly people who live alone, by delivering daily necessities and providing other forms of support to them. The staff members of the Emergency Relief Support Unit of the SWD also shared their experience in supporting the operation of quarantine centres. Since the implementation of compulsory quarantine measures for people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland (including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and visitors from other places) on February 8, the SWD has provided assistance to about 1 900 people from more than 1 200 households.
Mrs Lam said that the SWD has been providing various services to people in need in society, demonstrating the Government's care for the community. The SWD also plays an important role in this anti-epidemic work by taking care of the practical needs of the people under quarantine. Noting the heavy workload of this responsibility, Mrs Lam expressed her heartfelt appreciation to SWD colleagues for serving the public tirelessly during the epidemic.
Since the implementation of the compulsory quarantine on February 8 until yesterday, the Department of Health has issued a total of 14 417 quarantine orders. Of them, 13 694 persons are under home quarantine and a large majority are Hong Kong residents.
Mrs Lam then took the opportunity to visit a private elderly home in the district to distribute a batch of surgical masks produced by the Correctional Services Department to the nursing staff. Understanding the practical needs of the nursing staff, Mrs Lam said that in addition to according priorities to the frontline healthcare workers and government personnel providing emergency services, she announced earlier to set aside about one million surgical masks monthly for staff members of public and private institutions offering residential care services. She expressed the hope that the elderly homes will continue to take disease prevention measures and work with the Government to win the battle against the disease together. The head of the elderly home said that the tight supply of protective equipment in the market has left them with only a limited stock. She thanked the Government for providing surgical masks to them so that they can take care of the elderly with peace of mind.
Ends/Friday, February 21, 2020
Issued at HKT 23:24
Issued at HKT 23:24
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