LCQ15: Adjustments to anti-epidemic measures
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Question:
Regarding the adjustments to the anti-epidemic measures introduced in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether it has instructed various government departments to formulate a "withdrawal mechanism" under which when the response level in the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance is adjusted from "Emergency" to "Serious" or "Alert", public services and resources deployment can be adjusted accordingly in a timely manner; if so, of the details; if not, whether it will instruct various Heads of Departments to formulate such mechanism;
(2) given that the Government may, under section 8 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), adjust various anti-epidemic measures in the light of the epidemic development, whether the Government has plans to amend Cap. 599, including not extending the expiry dates of the public health emergency regulations enacted under section 8 of Cap. 599, and incorporating the public health emergency regulations enacted by the Government under section 8 of Cap. 599 since February 2020 into the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) given that following the Government's adjustments to the management and handling of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) has suspended the distribution of anti-epidemic kits to confirmed cases starting from the 30th of last month, and community isolation facilities will only maintain operation until the 28th of this month, of the mechanisms put in place by the Government to deal with the anti-epidemic supplies stored in places such as such facilities or HAD (including the proper handling of such supplies before the expiry dates) and the contracts for the provision of related services (e.g. nucleic acid testing service, as well as food supply, outsourced cleansing service and waste disposal for such facilities)?
Reply:
President,
Following three years of COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong, with the ever evolvement of the virus and Omicron becoming the predominating variant, coupled with the enhancement of prevention and treatment capacities of the healthcare system and the handling capacity of society as a whole, the risk posed by COVID-19 to local public health has apparently altered. With the cancellation of issuing isolation orders from January 30, 2023, the Government's management of the COVID-19 epidemic has entered a new stage and a new mode, with a view to gradually establishing a system of the "new normal" and having COVID-19 managed as a type of upper respiratory tract infections.
In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), the reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Carmen Kan is as follows:
(1) The Government launched the "Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance" (the Response Plan) on January 4, 2020, and raised the Response Level to the highest as Emergency Response Level on January 25, 2020 which is still effective as at now. Depending on the different Response Levels, bureaux and departments will take different levels of the public health response measures.
After assuming office, the current-term Government has also further strengthened the command structure on the systematic front in combating the epidemic. The Command and Coordination Group (CCG) overseen by the Chief Executive has been established to cope with the evolving epidemic situation and ensure that different bureaux and government departments can respond swiftly.
The Government will continue to review the risk of the epidemic from time to time, adopt corresponding anti-epidemic measures and activate or stand down from Response Levels in the light of the actual situation, regularise the strengthened and effective response measures, and summarise the experiences in each anti-epidemic work in order to ensure the road to normalcy progresses in an orderly manner.
(2) To prevent the spreading of COVID-19 in Hong Kong, protect the health of our population, and alleviate the effects of the epidemic, the Government has enacted a series of regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) to combat the public health emergency arising from COVID-19. These regulations cover different areas including inbound control measures, social distancing measures, compulsory testing and COVID-19 vaccination, etc. The legal framework provided by the regulations empowers the Government to take appropriate epidemic prevention and control actions in a timely manner, in order to combat the epidemic situation at the time and to protect public health.
Since the purpose of these regulations is to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, an expiry date is stipulated in all public health emergency regulations such that the general public and the relevant business premises would not be subject to the relevant restrictions and requirements after the epidemic.
The existence of the legal framework does not imply that the restrictions imposed under those regulations would be maintained until the corresponding expiry dates. In fact, the Government has relaxed epidemic control measures substantially in the past few months and then lifted the vast majority of the measures in the past month or so.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the development of the epidemic situation, review the remaining measures from time to time, and make suitable adjustments taking into account all relevant factors.
(3) The Home Affairs Department (HAD) launched the Home Support Supplies Delivery Services (HSSDS) in March 2022 to provide home delivery service for infected persons or close contacts who cannot make their own arrangements for basic daily necessities and food. In view that the Government ceased to issue isolation orders to infected persons with effect from January 30, 2023, the HSSDS ceased to accept requests for deliveries on the same day.
During the operation period of the HSSDS, the HAD delivered a total of more than 590 000 supply packs (including food packs and daily necessities packs) and special items (such as supplies for infants, etc.) to more than 210 000 households.
The HAD is currently sorting out and counting the quantity of materials in stock, and will formulate an action plan in accordance with the principle of efficient use of resources to properly handle the said materials.
On the other hand, over 80 community testing centres and stations (CTC/CTSs) in various districts across the city provide nucleic acid testing services for members of the public, including self-paid nucleic acid testing service for persons who need to obtain test results (such as certifications for travelling purpose); as well as free nucleic acid testing service for specified members of the public (e.g. visitors to public hospitals and residential care homes (RCHs), and staff of RCHs for the elderly and RCHs for persons with disabilities who are required to undergo regular nucleic acid testing). In light of the epidemic development, the Government had earlier announced that free testing for persons undergoing voluntary testing would be terminated at an appropriate juncture, and announcement will be made as soon as possible. The Government will adjust the number of CTCs/CTSs in accordance with the above development and revert the relevant sites to their original uses to continue the gradual resumption to normalcy of society.
On the other hand, having considered that some infected persons may wish to stay at the community isolation facilities (CIFs) to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the household if their living environment is crowded or their household members fall into high-risk groups, the CIFs will remain in operation for a short period of time for use by Hong Kong residents. This transitional arrangement will last until February 28, 2023. The Government will suitably adjust and gradually terminate the contracts for the provision of related services based on the utilisation rates and operational needs of the CIFs.
Ends/Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Issued at HKT 15:42
Issued at HKT 15:42
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