Credit - HK Gov
#14,686
Four days ago, when HK CHP Revised & Expanded Their Reporting Criteria Following Japan's Announced Coronavirus Detection to include anyone who visited a Mainland Hospital, there were only 41 known cases on the Mainland - all confined to Wuhan City - and two exported cases (Thailand & Japan).
But as we've seen, a lot can happen in 120 hours.Over the past 24 hours we've seen the number of cases quadruple, and scattered cases have been reported in Beijing and Shenzhen (which neighbors Hong Kong). Additionally, overnight South Korea confirmed their first imported case.
Today Hong Kong is convening an emergency meeting to discuss their options (more on that following the first press release), but the following statement addresses changes in the reporting criteria, which now encompasses travel from all of Hubei Province.
CHP provides latest information on pneumonia cases of novel coronavirus infection in Mainland and Korea and revises reporting criteria
After listing the latest events, they announced:
(Excerpt)
In view of the latest situation and risk assessment, the CHP will enhance surveillance of suspected cases and revise the reporting criteria of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent. Details are as follows:
Medical practitioners are requested to make a report to the CHP for further investigation if they encounter an individual with fever and acute respiratory illness, or pneumonia, and who had experienced one of the following within 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms:
(a) visited Hubei Province (regardless of whether the individual had visited wet markets or seafood markets there); or
(b) visited a medical hospital in the Mainland; or
(c) had close contact with a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus while that patient was symptomatic.
After reviewing the latest situation, the DH would impose a health declaration form system on inbound travellers by air from Wuhan under the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap 599A) starting from midnight tomorrow (January 21). These travellers will be required to complete and submit a health declaration form. If they are found to have fulfilled the reporting criteria of identifying Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent, they will be compulsorily referred to public hospitals for isolation, treatment and follow-up.
A spokesman for the CHP said, "The CHP will issue letters to doctors and private hospitals to inform them of the revised reporting criteria. The CHP will continue to maintain its liaison with the NHC, the World Health Organization and overseas health authorities, and closely monitor the situation for risk assessment."
The spokesman reminded the public to avoid close contact with persons with fever or respiratory symptoms in countries/areas with possible transmission of the novel coronavirus infection. If it is unavoidable to come into contact with them, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong.
(Continue . . . )The major change, to include all of Hubei Province in the travel criteria, may need revision and expansion again if we continue to see cases reported outside of Hubei.
A second press release - thus far only available in Chinese - has a lengthy opening statement by Professor Chen Zhaoshi, Director of the Food and Health Bureau, at a press conference this afternoon (HK time) discussing their preventative measures.
Due to its length, I've only posted an excerpt that conveys the gravity of the situation.
Opening statement by the Director of the Food and Health Bureau on the latest situation of Wuhan pneumonia case groups and related preventive measures
Professor Chen Zhaoshi, Director of the Food and Health Bureau, Dr. Chen Hanyi, Director of the Department of Health, Dr. Zhang Zhujun, Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Dr. Gao Basheng, Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Authority (HA), and Dr. Lai Weiwen, Chief Infection Control Director Today (January 20) A press conference on the latest situation of Wuhan pneumonia case groups and related prevention and control measures. The following is the opening speech of Professor Chen Zhaoshi at the press conference:
(EXCERPT)
After learning about this situation, we will hold an emergency meeting this morning to understand the overall situation with the department and other relevant units such as the Hospital Authority.
Since the Mainland announced the recent group of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, Hubei Province, on the 31st of December last year, as I said just now, the government has been waiting for it. It has continuously introduced enhancement measures and constantly monitored the overall situation. In addition to the Mainland and Wuhan, we also continue to monitor cases elsewhere and maintain contact with the World Health Organization. As of 8 am today, I reiterate that there is currently no one case of severe pneumonia related to Wuhan in Hong Kong and it is zero, but there are 106 suspected cases of infection. All of them are stable and most have been discharged.
With the discovery of multiple new cases of pneumonia caused by coronavirus in Wuhan, as well as confirmed cases in Beijing, Shenzhen, and other Asian countries, although the government has been waiting for prevention and control and surveillance work, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority are also preparing. However, the possibility of entering Hong Kong in the future cannot be underestimated. We must not take it lightly and must be prepared. Hong Kong will always have the first confirmed case.
After learning that the Wuhan Municipal Commission of Health and Health today reported a total of 136 newly diagnosed cases in Wuhan in the past two days, I immediately convened this morning and also met with experts. In addition to the Food and Health Bureau, there are the Department of Health and the Medical Administration. Bureau colleagues met together.
The Chief Executive also attended this morning's meeting in particular because she also attached great importance to knowing the latest situation in person, listening to colleagues' reports and related countermeasures. The Chief Executive reiterated that there are three important principles in the response measures adopted by the SAR Government, including (1) rapid response; (2) strict response; and (3) openness and transparency.
In fact, suspects or even confirmed cases may appear in Hong Kong within the next minute. Therefore, we must make the most rigorous and adequate preparations to effectively monitor suspected cases, effectively isolate confirmed cases, and effectively quarantine those who may be infected, and reduce the chance of spread and outbreak in the community. To meet the latest challenges, I have discussed the latest strategies with the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and relevant experts at this morning's meeting, and the experts confirmed that we are heading in the right direction. Our measures have three main points: (1) strengthen the monitoring of suspected cases, (2) health declaration forms, and (3) contingency measures in public hospitals.
For strengthening the surveillance of suspected cases, the Department of Health will further expand the scope of surveillance to cover all persons who have visited Hubei Province, and will continue to monitor all persons who have visited Mainland hospitals. Later, the Director of Health, Dr Chan Han-yi, will discuss details.
In terms of health declaration forms, the Department of Health will start tomorrow, and the Department of Health will implement a passenger health declaration system for Wuhan inbound flights, requiring all passengers arriving by air from Wuhan to complete and submit health declaration forms. Dr. Hanyi Chen will also discuss details in this regard later.
Third, regarding the contingency measures of public hospitals, in terms of the HA, the HA has been strengthening public hospitals and clinics ’surveillance and infection control measures since it received notifications of pneumonia cases in the Mainland. The strategy of "blocking" infectious diseases, in cooperation with the Department of Health, through "early notification", "early isolation" and "early laboratory tests" to block cases of pneumonia that may be transmitted and spread. Later, Dr Gao Shengsheng, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hospital Authority, will explain to you the measures they intend to take and prepare for.
(Continue . . . )As we've discussed in past, Hong Kong has stared into the abyss before (see SARS And Remembrance), and found its response in 2003 lacking. While SARS made it to more than 30 countries, no city was harder hit than was Hong Kong.
Between March 11th and June 6th, a total of 1750 cases were identified, and of those, 286 died.The remembrance of that crisis 17 years ago has no doubt helped to amplify the concerns of the public - and health officials - across Asia, and around the world, over the recent emergence of this most recent novel coronavirus.
Stay tuned. Because things don't appear to be slowing down any time soon.
