|
Surveillance at boundary control points will be enhanced from May 1 to guard against swine influenza, Under Secretary for Food & Health Prof Gabriel Leung says, adding the Government will launch a clean Hong Kong campaign.
Speaking to reporters this afternoon, Prof Leung said all in-bound passengers at the airport will be required to complete health declaration forms while help stations will be set up to provide assistance to in-bound land travellers.
People who do not pass the temperature screening must go to the help stations for further checks and will be taken to hospitals for tests, if necessary.
Travellers' hotline
The Department of Health has also set up a 24-hour hotline - 2125 1111 - to field questions from people who had developed flu-like symptoms and who had travelled to human swine-flu affected areas during the seven-day period before they started feeling unwell.
The Food & Environmental Hygiene, Home Affairs and Housing Departments have stepped up cleansing works at their facilities.
The Government will monitor developments and maintain a close liaison with the World Health Organisation to see if the body will raise its alert level.
The under secretary said if Hong Kong has a confirmed case, the Government will proactively consider raising its alert level from 'serious' to 'emergency'. If this happens, the Chief Executive will chair a steering committee to stem the virus's spread.
Centre for Health Protection Controller Dr Thomas Tsang said no new patients needed to go to hospitals for swine flu tests. Among the seven patients being tested, five have been confirmed to be free of the virus while results for the remaining two are pending.
The centre staff today visited the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village to make preparations to turn it into a quarantine camp, if necessary, Dr Tsang added.
Battle plan
Hospital Authority Director (Quality & Safety) Dr Leung Pak-yin said 1,400 beds have been made available for isolating swine flu patients and the authority may open other general wards and stop non-urgent surgeries to cater for any potential need.
If there were a wide outbreak in the community, the authority would open 18 designated out-patient clinics for treating patients with mild symptoms.
The authority has held forums to ensure hospital staff are aware of the response plan. Noting the authority has sufficient protective equipment and drugs, Dr Leung said it will also provide psychological support to its staff to help them prepare for the flu fight.
|