The task force of ensuring medical supplies led by the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) has been working closely with its Mainland counterparts to ensure the orderly arrival of various kinds of anti-epidemic medical supplies. Most of these supplies have been distributed to the frontline and citizens in need through various channels with a view to stabilising the fifth wave of the epidemic.
      
     A spokesman for the CEDB said today (April 8) that with the staunch support of the Central Government, over 30 types of medical supplies broadly under five main categories, namely testing, personal protection, disinfection, medication and equipment, procured with the co-ordination by the Central Government, have been received.
      
     The supplies include over 240 million rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, 360 million N95/KN95/surgical/medical masks, 60 million set of personal protective equipment (including protective coveralls, protective gowns, goggles, face shields, shoe covers and surgical/examination gloves), and 1.6 million pulse oximeters. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government expresses gratitude to the Central Government for its donation of 600 000 boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines. Most of them have been distributed through the Food and Health Bureau to the residents subject to "restriction-testing declarations", and through the Hospital Authority to the confirmed patients in isolation facilities and those receiving treatment at 18 Chinese medicine clinics.
      
     Meanwhile, the task force has provided the Home Affairs Department with over 70 million RAT kits and KN95 masks respectively for inclusion in the anti-epidemic service bags and distribution to some 3 million households in Hong Kong since April 2. The service bags so distributed also include over 7 million boxes of anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines procured with the co-ordination by the Central Government. In addition, to support the Government's call for conducting RATs for three consecutive days starting from today, millions of RAT kits are made available for collection by people in need at the district-wide anti-epidemic service bag distribution points.
      
     The remaining supplies will continue to be distributed to the frontline involved in anti-epidemic work, persons with higher infection risks (such as residents subject to "restriction-testing declarations" or living in areas testing positive under sewage tracing) and people working in high-risk industries (such as cross-boundary goods vehicle drivers, property management staff, cleaning staff and staff of residential care homes for the elderly) through multiple channels. Relevant supplies are being provided daily to confirmed patients and their close contacts and family members in the form of anti-epidemic kits.
      
     The rest of the medical supplies, such as RAT kits and high-grade protective masks on higher demand, are centrally managed and stored by the Government Logistics Department for the use and regular withdrawal by relevant departments to meet their demands in the coming months. The task force will continue to review the situation and adjust timely the procurement of medical supplies according to the Government's anti-epidemic policies and measures.

Ends/Friday, April 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 23:26

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