Community effort: Neighbours must not discriminate against those under home quarantine if the measures are to succeed, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong says.

Stepping up its fight against the spread of atypical pneumonia, the Government today announced that it would strictly enforce home quarantine for people known to have had close contact with someone who has the disease, including all members of the patient's household.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Secretary for Health, Welfare & Food Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong said these people would be required to stay in their homes for 10 days. They will not be allowed to leave their flat without express permission in writing from the Department of Health.

"We need to implement new measures and strategies," Dr Yeoh said, noting there had never been such a need in the past. "We must exercise these measures carefully, reasonably and responsibly."

About 70 to 80 households, representing 150 individuals, will receive a letter from the Department of Health tonight, apprising them of the order.

The recent isolation of the residents of Amoy Gardens Block E shows that the community accepts such an order, despite the inconvenience, he said.

The move is a serious one, aimed at facilitating early detection and treatment, "to reduce to the absolute minimum the further spreading of the disease to the community."

However, the data gathered since the outbreak began suggests that the rate of household members who become infected after close contact with an atypical pneumonia sufferer is less than 5%.

During the media briefing, Dr Yeoh repeatedly stressed the need not to discriminate against these people. "Family members do not pose a clear and present danger to their communities," he said.

List of affected buildings to be posted

In response to the public's calls for more detailed information, Dr Yeoh said the Department of Health would post a list of buildings whose residents or workers are confirmed to have atypical pneumonia.

"The individuals don't pose a risk," he stressed. "We must support these families, and not to stay away from them or discriminate against them."

When these people stay at home, there's no risk to other people living in the same building, he said.

"We will give information to housing management offices to step up cleansing work. Residents in the same building will not be subject to any risk. The public must give moral support to these people so they can stay at home with ease of mind. If the public doesn't accept these people, any measure will not be effective."

Family members have the choice of remaining inside their own homes, or moving to a Government holiday camp. They will not be able to receive visitors. The Department of Health will conduct checks on these individuals, and observe closely their health conditions.

They are required by law to remain at home. To ensure they comply, the department will contact them by phone several times a day. They will also be subject to unannounced Police visits.

Household contacts that are at the end of their isolation period, under the initial home quarantine order, can continue to visit the designated health clinics on a daily basis. However, those who have four days or more outstanding will now be monitored at their homes.

Cooperation more important than penalties

Director of Health Dr Margaret Chan said that invoking Section 11, Cap 141 of the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance was not a foolproof system. "The key is based on self regulation."

Those individuals who do not stay at home in compliance with the order will get a warning letter after the first contravention. "Based on power invested in us, we can isolate these people for 10 days in designated places," Dr Chan added.

While at home they will get daily medical checks. "Early identification and treatment is paramount to control the spread of the virus," she added.

The Government is ready to provide assistance and support services to these households. Affected students will get special care and attention when they do return to class.

Several departments to pitch in to help

Acting Director of Home Affairs Janet Wong noted that the Administration was prepared to provide support services for affected families, recognising they would experience some inconvenience.

A number of leaflets describing how to maintain good personal and environmental hygiene have been developed for them, along with lists of useful phone numbers and websites.

Eighteen hotlines will be set up to reach the 18 District Offices, operating from 8am to 8pm. A central hotline, 2835 1473, manned from 8pm to 8am, will answer calls and provide referrals.

"If working people need to show documents to their employers, we'll follow up with the Department of Health; if students will miss exams, we will follow up with the relative authorities," Ms Wong said.

Cleanliness still the key

Good personal and environmental hygiene is key to stopping the spread of the disease, Dr Yeoh stressed.

Early on, the virus was thought to spread only in droplets. More recently, researchers have found the virus in faeces. While the report on the outbreak at Amoy Gardens is not yet complete, it is believed the virus there was transmitted primarily through faeces.

To prevent its spread is simple, Dr Yeoh said. "You can pour bleach down the pipes in your kitchen and toilet."

He added: "Disinfection and cleaning may be able to solve the problem. The Government can't go to every housing estate and every household to do disinfecting. The public should have the responsibility to monitor the hygiene condition of their own apartments, their own buildings, their personal hygiene and that of their family members. These are just simple things."

A plea for the public's understanding

What these families need most, Dr Yeoh said, will be assistance in purchasing daily needs and necessities and having them delivered to their doors. "Assistance can be given by relatives, friends and neighbours, without much difficulty in terms of gestures of moral support to these families."

They need the community's understanding, he said, adding "that they are not and must not  be treated as though they were contagious, and the lepers of yesteryear. These people are ordinary people like yourself and myself, and some of them may be your friends and relatives. They are unfortunate victims of circumstance and they must be given the dignity they rightly deserve in getting through this difficult period.

"This is a difficult time for everybody. It is indeed time for us all to cooperate to make these measures work. I do believe that a crisis will always bring out the best and the worst of humankind. For this particular time, I only hope that it will bring out the best of the true qualities of the people of Hong Kong, the quality and values that we people of Hong Kong have always believed in and treasured.

"We've been moved by scenes of celebration when residents of Block E returned to their homes last night.

"I think it's now time that we show the world that we stand not as a divided and angry and irrational community, but as brothers and sisters in arms to fight this very alarming disease."