The Social Welfare Department today launched a new round of the Anti-virus Coating Spray Subsidy to support about 1,100 residential care homes for the elderly and the disabled.

The subsidy has also been extended to cover around 300 existing day care units of elderly and rehabilitation services.

All subvented, contract, self-financing and private residential care homes for seniors and those for the disabled with a valid licence as of October 30 as well as all existing subvented and subsidised day care units are eligible to apply.

The ceiling of the subsidy amount for each home or day care unit is set according to the floor area of the home or unit. Care homes and day care units have been invited to apply for the subsidy.

Following a streamlined confirmation procedure, the participating homes or units may procure the coating spray service on their own for one-off or multiple applications of coating to provide disinfection protection for an aggregate of no less than 180 days.

The coating spray process for day care units must start on or before December 31, while the process for residential care homes must start on or before January 31, 2021.