Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan today met visiting Mainland medical and health experts to exchange views on the key actions to be taken by the Government against COVID-19.

Prof Chan said: “I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Mainland expert delegation led by National Health Commission COVID-19 leading task force head Prof Liang Wannian as well as the Mainland experts from the task force of epidemiologists and the Guangdong COVID-19 medical expert delegation for their invaluable advice and guidance.

“The experts offered much constructive advice in relation to the anti-epidemic measures in Hong Kong, including the implementation of a triage system to prioritise treatment for COVID-19 patients, in particular for the elderly, according to their condition. Also, the experts made use of data analysis to have a more thorough understanding of the actual work of Hong Kong in fighting the epidemic, hence conducted a more in-depth analysis and assessment of the epidemic and offered guidance.”

During their stay in Hong Kong, the expert delegations met and held discussions with local health officials, the Government’s anti-epidemic expert advisory group and a number of public health experts. Through visiting residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), public hospitals, community isolation facilities and community testing centres, and viewing restriction-testing declaration operations, they were able to gain a better grasp of the various facets of Hong Kong’s work to curb COVID-19 and offered advice on the city’s virus containing strategies.

Following up on the recommendations made by the Mainland experts, the Government’s specific measures include setting up more community isolation facilities and holding centres for the elderly, strengthening the support for RCHEs and people with disabilities, and enhancing the support for elderly patients undergoing home isolation who have no symptoms or mild symptoms.

“Having ‘reducing deaths, reducing severe cases, reducing infections’ as the anti-epidemic strategy, the Government is racing against time and sparing no effort in curbing this wave of the epidemic as soon as possible and safeguard citizens’ lives,” the health chief added.