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| Credit - HK Gov |
#14,617
While we still don't have a good handle on the size, cause, or the potential threat posed by the cluster of unidentified pneumonia cases centered in Wuhan City, Mainland China's closest neighbors (Hong Kong, Macao & Taiwan) continue to ramp up their surveillance and preparedness efforts (see HK CHP Expands Criteria For Investigating Suspected Pneumonia Cases From Wuhan).
Hong Kong has produced, and maintains, several `Emergency Response' plans for disease threats such as MERS, Avian Flu, and Pandemic Flu. And over the past dozen years, we've seen them activated several times (see HERE, HERE, and HERE).Since the potential threat in Mainland China doesn't exactly fit these pre-existing plans, HK's CHP has quickly cobbled together a new Government’s Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance - based largely on the previous plans - and as of this morning (HK time), has activated the plan at the 2nd tier, or `Serious' level.
This preparedness plan describes the 2nd highest threat level as:
Serious Response Level
12. Serious Response Level corresponds to a situation where the risk of health impact caused by the novel infection on local population in Hong Kong is moderate. Generally, it depicts a situation when there is limited spread of the disease in local population, e.g. sporadic or small cluster(s) of infection. In case of zoonotic infection, when there is an outbreak of the novel infection in animals in Hong Kong that may have close contact with the general population and there is evidence of significant risk of animal to human transmission. It may also apply to situation when a significant number of human cases of the novel infection with serious health outcomes are reported in places/areas where the trade and travel relationship with Hong Kong is significant.
13. SFH may activate or stand down this response level upon the advice of the DAFC/DFEH and/or DoH.
14. DAFC, DFEH and DoH will consider the key factors mentioned in paragraph 2 in conducting the risk assessment for formulation of the advice.While ominous sounding, Hong Kong has been at this preparedness level before, and was able to pull back from the brink.
By setting the preparedness level to `Serious' - which denotes a moderate threat to Hong Kong - Hong Kong officials can activate contingency plans, including the setting up of a Steering Committee chaired by their SFH which will coordinate the Government's response.
The HK government issued a press release a few hours ago on the activation of this emergency plan.
New infectious disease contingency plan announced
January 4, 2020
The government today announced a new infectious disease preparedness and contingency plan that is important to public health , and launched a severe contingency level with immediate effect.
The contingency plan describes the preparations and contingency measures prepared by the government to deal with the emergence of new infectious diseases that are important to public health. It is divided into three levels of alert, emergency, and emergency. According to the risk assessment of infectious diseases that will affect Hong Kong and the impact on society, Health effects.
In response to the National Health Commission's notification of an unexplained group of viral pneumonia cases in Wuhan, the government made a risk assessment and initiated a severe response level. At this level, the immediate impact of infectious diseases on the health of citizens is moderate.
The Centre for Health Protection stated that a new type of infectious disease that is important to public health refers to any infectious disease caused by pathogens that could cause human-like pathogens, but because of its characteristics or changes, it does not matter whether it is available to people or not. The ability to spread effectively between humans can also be infected.
Such diseases may spread internationally, causing public health emergencies. The current group of viral pneumonia cases in Wuhan can be regarded as a new infectious disease that is important to public health.
In response to the latest scientific research evidence and development, the government will assess the risk from time to time, activate or release the contingency level, and take corresponding prevention and control measures.
If Hong Kong should elevate their emergency level to `Emergency', it would signal a much greater imminent threat to public health. The new preparedness plan describes this top level as:
Generally, it depicts a high risk of serious human infections caused by the novel infectious agent in Hong Kong, and serious infections may be widespread. It generally applies to situation when there is evidence or imminent risk of sustained community level outbreaks.We are not there yet, and with luck, we won't be. But HK's CHP is our Distant Early Warning System for outbreaks on the Mainland, and so we watch not only what they say, but what they do, very closely.
In the past hour, the SFH (Secretary For Food & Health) Professor Sophia Chan make the following remarks to reporters on the activation of this emergency plan.
Transcript of remarks by SFH at media session
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, after attending a radio programme today (January 4):
Reporter: Regarding the new response plan for new infectious disease, what exact step is the Government taking to better monitor the situation? You said in the programme that the Government has strengthened the monitoring of inbound passengers at the airport, is the Government doing the same at other ports and also the High Speed Rail Terminal?
Secretary for Food and Health: In launching this Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance, we have actually put it to the Serious Response Level. We have already met with different bureaux and related departments to heighten the surveillance, cleaning as well as protection and control of this disease. We have already done that. Different departments such as the Education Bureau, the Social Welfare Department, are already heightening or increasing their vigilance towards this disease. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has also issued letters to private doctors and Chinese medicine practitioners so that they are alerted of the situation. As far as the Hospital Authority is concerned, they are also increasing their infection control measures. For example, they are going to look into the visiting hours, to see if there is a need to restrict the number of people going to the hospitals such as volunteers. There are already other measures which have already put in place before we put this to the Serous Response Level. For examples, we are reporting the number of this notifiable cases every day now and CHP is already trying to increase vigilance not only the airport but also all ports.
Reporter: How is the Government improving the monitoring at other ports?
Secretary for Food and Health: At all these ports, there will be people monitoring incoming people that may have fever. CHP is increasing the manpower to do this. As far as the airport is concerned, there are infrared detecting machines on fever. Not only do they put in place these measures, they are also increasing publicity to alert everybody that have gone to Wuhan so that they are aware of their own health situation. For the general public, everybody should be aware of the situation and increase their own personal hygiene.
Reporter: Should people start wearing mask when we go out now?
Secretary for Food and Health: I think, if you have respiratory symptom, our advice by the Department of Heath is that you should wear mask.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, January 4, 2020
Issued at HKT 13:17
Regarding the mask recommendations, there are already media reports suggesting that surgical mask and N95 sales are brisk, and store stocks are quickly being depleted. Once again reminding us that it is always better to be prepared before a crisis.
Obviously, this is an evolving story. Stay tuned.
