#Newspaper
Information of epidemic transparency declined; CHP cut information about people in quarantine twice
(27 Feb) Since the first confirmed case was reported in Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) almost had the press conference and press release every day to update relevant information about confirmed cases patient. Information released to the public by CHP has been cut twice. The number of intimate contact of confirmed patient in isolation camp and their quarantine situation were initially disclosed. Up to now, it only released the number of confirmed cases. The rest of the information is not available anymore. A fax has been sent to the Department of Health for inquiry, but no feedback so far.
After checking the information in the press release of CHP on 23 Jan for the first two confirmed cases of coronavirus, it clearly stated eight intimate contacts of 39-year-old patient. Three of them were sent to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine. The rest of them, five people, were not in Hong Kong and followed up by the local Department of Health. Two intimate contacts of the second confirmed case were planned to be sent to “the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine”. One would be sent to the centre of quarantine. Another people with symptoms “were sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for isolation treatment”. The information of how many intimate contacts of these two confirmed patients with symptoms to be isolated for treatment in hospital and under medical surveillance was all listed clearly.
On 5 Feb, CHP had press release at 1:51 am and 8:39 pm. However, since the press release at 8:39 pm, the appendix of intimate contact of the confirmed case under tracking did not show the location of quarantine anymore.
On 16 Feb, CHP even released less information. The appendix of intimate contact under tracking only showed the number of intimate contact and other contacts of confirmed cases. It did not disclose information of “the location of quarantine and isolation treatment”, “how many would be sent to quarantine”, “how many finished quarantine and still under medical surveillance” and “how many were under medical surveillance”.
FactWire has sent an inquiry to CHP on 17 Feb why it stopped disclosing the details of contacts in the track including intimate contact and other contacts in quarantine or the situation of under medical surveillance. There was no more information about the intimate contacts and other contacts of 14 confirmed cases on that day (16th and 57th cases) under quarantine, medical surveillance or isolation treatment. However, the Department of Health did not response and only stated 150 people in quarantine centre up to 16 Feb. CHP didn’t answer the details in the press conference. FactWire checked with the Department of Health again yesterday (26 Feb) why it did not disclose relevant information. No reply so far.
Source: FactWire
https://bit.ly/2VsC2SA
#CHP #CoronavirusOutbreak
Information of epidemic transparency declined; CHP cut information about people in quarantine twice
(27 Feb) Since the first confirmed case was reported in Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) almost had the press conference and press release every day to update relevant information about confirmed cases patient. Information released to the public by CHP has been cut twice. The number of intimate contact of confirmed patient in isolation camp and their quarantine situation were initially disclosed. Up to now, it only released the number of confirmed cases. The rest of the information is not available anymore. A fax has been sent to the Department of Health for inquiry, but no feedback so far.
After checking the information in the press release of CHP on 23 Jan for the first two confirmed cases of coronavirus, it clearly stated eight intimate contacts of 39-year-old patient. Three of them were sent to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine. The rest of them, five people, were not in Hong Kong and followed up by the local Department of Health. Two intimate contacts of the second confirmed case were planned to be sent to “the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village for quarantine”. One would be sent to the centre of quarantine. Another people with symptoms “were sent to Tuen Mun Hospital for isolation treatment”. The information of how many intimate contacts of these two confirmed patients with symptoms to be isolated for treatment in hospital and under medical surveillance was all listed clearly.
On 5 Feb, CHP had press release at 1:51 am and 8:39 pm. However, since the press release at 8:39 pm, the appendix of intimate contact of the confirmed case under tracking did not show the location of quarantine anymore.
On 16 Feb, CHP even released less information. The appendix of intimate contact under tracking only showed the number of intimate contact and other contacts of confirmed cases. It did not disclose information of “the location of quarantine and isolation treatment”, “how many would be sent to quarantine”, “how many finished quarantine and still under medical surveillance” and “how many were under medical surveillance”.
FactWire has sent an inquiry to CHP on 17 Feb why it stopped disclosing the details of contacts in the track including intimate contact and other contacts in quarantine or the situation of under medical surveillance. There was no more information about the intimate contacts and other contacts of 14 confirmed cases on that day (16th and 57th cases) under quarantine, medical surveillance or isolation treatment. However, the Department of Health did not response and only stated 150 people in quarantine centre up to 16 Feb. CHP didn’t answer the details in the press conference. FactWire checked with the Department of Health again yesterday (26 Feb) why it did not disclose relevant information. No reply so far.
Source: FactWire
https://bit.ly/2VsC2SA
#CHP #CoronavirusOutbreak
HK Schools Resumed after "Early Summer Vacation", with Daily Rapid Testing for Students
During the daily #COVID19 press conference on April 11, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced plans for schools to resume beginning on April 19, after nearly 2 months of suspension due to a wave of #Omicron sweeping through the city.
Students will need to take a rapid test every day before attending school; only those with a negative result will be allowed in.
The government also laid out guidelines for closing schools: if 5% of a school's students and staff test positive, the Centre for Health Protection (#CHP) will investigate the outbreak.
Vaccination will not be required for students, but those without it will not be allowed to attend extracurricular activities.
The timeline for resuming in-person classes:
Secondary schools: Starting May 3, schools can resume their classes in stages or entirely. By May 10, all classes must resume.
Primary schools: classes can resume in stages or entirely starting April 19. All classes must resume by May 3.
Kindergartens: One-third of classes are to resume starting May 3, with the remaining to resume on May 10. All classes must resume by May 16.
This will bring an end to the suspension of classes, which was began on Feb 21 when the government announced an "early summer vacation" for all schools.
During the press conference, Carrie Lam expressed her thanks that more schools have proactively taken anti-pandemic measures, including arranging vaccinations and distributing prevention kits, as a result of the government-mandated "summer vacation".
During the questioning period, a NowTV reporter asked whether parents could opt for online classes, instead of sending their children to school.
Secretary of Education Kevin Yeung replied that the policy was a balance between needs and risks, and they found that despite the risk being non-zero, resuming in-person classes was necessary. He further stated that students aged 6-15 are required by law to attend school.
#Apr11 #WuhanPneumonia #OmicronWave #ClassSuspension
source: In-Media HK
https://bit.ly/3Jrc6vN
During the daily #COVID19 press conference on April 11, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced plans for schools to resume beginning on April 19, after nearly 2 months of suspension due to a wave of #Omicron sweeping through the city.
Students will need to take a rapid test every day before attending school; only those with a negative result will be allowed in.
The government also laid out guidelines for closing schools: if 5% of a school's students and staff test positive, the Centre for Health Protection (#CHP) will investigate the outbreak.
Vaccination will not be required for students, but those without it will not be allowed to attend extracurricular activities.
The timeline for resuming in-person classes:
Secondary schools: Starting May 3, schools can resume their classes in stages or entirely. By May 10, all classes must resume.
Primary schools: classes can resume in stages or entirely starting April 19. All classes must resume by May 3.
Kindergartens: One-third of classes are to resume starting May 3, with the remaining to resume on May 10. All classes must resume by May 16.
This will bring an end to the suspension of classes, which was began on Feb 21 when the government announced an "early summer vacation" for all schools.
During the press conference, Carrie Lam expressed her thanks that more schools have proactively taken anti-pandemic measures, including arranging vaccinations and distributing prevention kits, as a result of the government-mandated "summer vacation".
During the questioning period, a NowTV reporter asked whether parents could opt for online classes, instead of sending their children to school.
Secretary of Education Kevin Yeung replied that the policy was a balance between needs and risks, and they found that despite the risk being non-zero, resuming in-person classes was necessary. He further stated that students aged 6-15 are required by law to attend school.
#Apr11 #WuhanPneumonia #OmicronWave #ClassSuspension
source: In-Media HK
https://bit.ly/3Jrc6vN