The Mainland epidemiological expert delegation visited Contact Tracing Office (CTO) under the Department of Health’s (DH) Centre for Health Protection Communicable Disease Branch on the third day of its visit to Hong Kong.

The delegation visited the CTO in San Po Kong this morning to get a better grasp of the epidemiological investigation and contact-tracing of COVID-19 confirmed cases conducted by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. The delegation also shared the contact-tracing experience in the Mainland.

They met and exchanged experience with the representatives of the Environmental Protection Department (EPD), the Electrical & Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the DH in the afternoon.

The EPD introduced their work and achievements in environmental investigation of virus transmission to the expert delegation, and analysed the major transmission routes within buildings in Hong Kong.

The EMSD presented to the expert delegation an introduction on their work during the epidemic, including the provision of technical advice and support on the design and operation requirements of indoor ventilation systems to government departments, assistance in the formulation and constant review of guidelines on the improvement of indoor air quality for various premises, and sampling and case investigation work, with a view to reducing the airborne transmission risk of the COVID-19 virus in indoor environments.

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan said the Government is in a race against time with the highly transmissible Omicron mutant strain. To contain the epidemic, the Government has to trace the close contacts of every confirmed case as soon as possible and conduct environmental investigation rapidly.