Press Releases

Annex
Measures to prevent and to prepare for the resurgence of SARS

I. Public Health Measures

(a) Prevention of importation/ exportation of new cases	To continue health checks measures at the border control points, including temperature screening for all passengers at the airport and other border control points and health declaration
	To continue to bar SARS patients and their household contacts from leaving Hong Kong during the confinement period
(b) Extended disease surveillance in the international, regional and local context	To continue to maintain close communication with WHO and health authorities in other countries
	To release timely and accurate information on SARS development to both the local and international communities to keep people on high alert should the disease re-emerge
	To maintain close ties with the Mainland health authorities through regular exchanges and tripartite meetings of Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Expert Group on Prevention and Treatment of Infectious Disease
	To provide a central database for all cases and contacts for tracking and analysis through DH's Centralised Case and Contact Information System
	To build up a common electronic platform to enhance health surveillance in community institutions such as elderly homes and schools
(c) Disease control	Epidemiological investigations, contact tracing and medical surveillance of close contacts
	Isolation of suspected cases for hospital treatment and quarantine measures of home confinement or confinement at holiday camps for 10 days applied to all close contact of SARS patients
	Deployment of multidisciplinary response team for investigations, disinfection and health education to any buildings where SARS patients have been residing during the incubation period
(d) Public awareness, personal and environmental hygiene	DH to continue to educate the public and conduct public education campaigns to promote personal and environmental hygiene
	Team Clean has devised strategies to promote a sustainable, cross-sectoral approach to raise public awareness of the importance of environmental hygiene

II. Hospital Preparation Plan

(a) Surveillance of infectious diseases	Upon notification by DH, HA will promptly disseminate alerts and managements guidelines to hospitals, and clinicians will in turn report suspected cases to DH
	To further enhance the role of general outpatient clinics in disease surveillance
(b) Clinical management	HA to collaborate with academics in conducting research to fill the knowledge gaps on SARS
	HA SARS Collaborative Committee to steer future treatment direction in respect of SARS
	Priority areas identified for urgent follow up actions, including studies on the effectiveness of infection control measures.
(c) Infection control measures	Developing a more reliable diagnosis index for adoption by the Accident and Emergency Departments and fever clinics
	Early diagnosis and timely isolation of SARS patients to shorten the duration of unnoticed stay of patients with atypical presentation and reduce the chance of cross-infection among patients
	To conduct evidence-based evaluation of the effectiveness of existing infection control measures
(d) Care for the Elderly	To roll out and evaluate outreach support to elderly care homes with a view to reduce admission of elders into hospitals
	To collaborate with Government and Non-Governmental Organisations in reviewing and upgrading infection control practices and facilities of residential care homes for the elderly
(e) Strategy for Cohorting Patients	To adopt a staged approach in the mobilisation of hospitals in handling SARS
	The number of confirmed SARS patients in any hospitals limit to 50 to avoid major disruption to existing services. The number could be increased to 100 in the case of a major outbreak
	To give priority to suspected SARS cases for the use of isolation facilities In case of major epidemic, confirmed SARS patients may be cohorted in open wards with improved ventilation, and with beds suitably spaced To make available adequate backup facilities and expertise, including intensive care, in hospitals treating SARS patients
(f) Infection Control Facilities in Public Hospitals	To enhance "fever" ward and SARS ward facilities at nine major acute hospitals
	Short-term improvements in nine acute hospitals will result in 167 isolation rooms with a total of 492 beds for SARS patients and 369 isolation rooms with 789 beds for suspected SARS patients
(g) Human Resources Capabilities in Handling Infectious Diseases	To set up an infectious disease control training centre to identify and develop suitable training programmes on infection control and infection disease for HA staff across all disciplines
	To provide in-house induction training for all HA staff across all disciplines
	To send nurses and allied health professionals to attend local full time/part-time training courses on infection control
	To build up HA expertise in infectious disease by sending staff to attend overseas training programmes or local post-graduate diploma programmes on infectious disease
(h) Contingency Planning	To formulate an overall contingency plan to ensure HA has adequate surge capacity to cope with future outbreaks through staged mobilisation of its acute hospitals
	To formulate a plan for the construction, commissioning and operation of temporary isolation facilities within short notice