COVID-19

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the Government has been racing against time to curb the spread of the virus, reduce infection rates and ease pressure on the healthcare system.

August 10

LATEST SITUATION OF THE EPIDEMIC

• 4,045 new cases [1,669 cases by nucleic acid tests (230 imported + 1,439 locally acquired); 2,376 cases by rapid antigen tests (32 imported + 2,344 locally acquired)]
• As at August 9, 1,053, 1,637, 9,337 and 2,889 received their first, second, third and fourth dose of vaccine respectively; a cumulative total of 18,212,961 doses have been administered
• The Government announced the extension of existing social distancing measures. The measures will be effective from August 11 to August 24.
• CHP investigates locally acquired SARS-CoV-2 virus cases with 1,439 cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests and 2,344 cases by RATs verified as well as 262 imported cases
  • new cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests: 1,669 (230 imported + 1,439 locally acquired)
  • total cases tested positive by nucleic acid tests: 835,893
  • new cases tested positive by rapid antigen tests: 2,376 (32 imported + 2,344 locally acquired)
  • total cases tested positive by rapid antigen tests: 557,434
  • deaths: 9,550 [during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021): 9,337]

• Conducting large-scale COVID-19 testing: with support from the Central Authorities, on boosting nucleic acid testing capacity, constructing community isolation and treatment facilities^[D]
• Strengthening contact tracing and round-the-clock sewage testing to identify asymptomatic patients
• Procuring millions of rapid antigen test kits for distribution to residents^[E]

1. [A]  List of private doctors who can prescribe COVID-19 oral drugs published

   The list of private doctors registered with the eHRSS who have obtained the COVID-19 antivirals for managing COVID-19 cases is published on www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/tp_pd_antiviral.pdf to facilitate the public in receiving treatment. The list will be updated when appropriate to reflect the changes in the number of doctors.

2. [B]  Government announces enhanced Vaccine Pass function

   The Government announced the addition of the Red Code and Amber Code into the Vaccine Pass to differentiate persons with higher risk of infection. Starting from August 9, confirmed cases will be categorised as persons with a Red Code, and inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan will be categorised as persons with an Amber Code. Their Vaccine Pass QR codes will be displayed in red or amber accordingly.

3. Government trials upgraded electronic health declaration system to enhance arrival quarantine procedures

   The Government announced today (July 24) the implementation of an upgraded electronic health declaration system on a trial basis starting from 0.00am on July 28 (Hong Kong Time), requiring inbound persons to complete the online electronic health declaration of the Department of Health (DH) and obtain a QR code before boarding their flights to Hong Kong. The launch of the upgraded electronic health declaration system will facilitate the Government's progressive enhancements to the electronic checking and processing of arrival quarantine procedures, thereby streamlining the process and reducing the time required for inbound persons to stay at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA).

4. [C]  21 Community Vaccination Centres open from 10am today

   Twenty-one Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) are providing COVID-19 vaccination service to members of the public on June 1. The opening hours of the CVCs are from 10am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, and between 8am and 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays. They are closed daily between 1.30pm and 2.30pm for cleaning. The CVCs at Hong Kong Central Library, Kowloon Bay Sports Centre, Education Bureau Kowloon Tong Education Services Centre and Tsuen Wan Sports Centre were closed after finishing their service to the public at the night of May 31 in accordance with the arrangement as announced earlier.

5. DH's Elderly Health Centres continue to provide COVID-19 vaccination service

   The Department of Health announced that its 11 Elderly Health Centres will continue to provide COVID-19 vaccination walk-in service with the CoronaVac vaccine for all persons aged 65 or above, to encourage and assist the elderly to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

6. Home Vaccination Call Centre to receive enquiries from Monday to Friday

   The Government appeals to elderly persons aged 70 or above or persons with impaired mobility due to illness or physical disability who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine before to seize the opportunity to register for the free door-to-door vaccination service via the Home Vaccination Service website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/hv/) or the enquiry hotline (Tel: 5688 5234) as soon as possible. Starting from June 13, the Home Vaccination Call Centre will operate from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Friday.

7. [D] Government announces adjustments to quarantine arrangements for inbound persons"

   - From August 12 (Hong Kong Time), inbound persons from overseas places or Taiwan will be subject to quarantine under the "3+4" model, i.e. they will be subject to compulsory quarantine in DQHs for three days, followed by medical surveillance at home for four days, with multiple tests during medical surveillance and the monitoring period thereafter. They will be subject to Amber Code restrictions under the Vaccine Pass during medical surveillance period, and are not allowed to enter high-risk premises involving mask-off or group activities, as well as other premises requiring key protection

   - Starting 0.00am on August 12 (Hong Kong Time), all persons boarding flights to Hong Kong from overseas places or Taiwan are required to complete the online Health & Quarantine Information Declaration of the Department of Health in advance to declare record of completion of vaccination… and present the health declaration QR code generated after completion of the declaration at check-in for verification by airlines for boarding.

   - Persons arriving at Hong Kong under the Return2hk or Come2hk Schemes will not be affected and they can continue to be exempted from compulsory quarantine. For other persons not arriving from the Mainland or Macao under the Return2hk or Come2hk Schemes, their compulsory quarantine period at home will be correspondingly adjusted to three nights, followed by four nights of self-monitoring on the third day of arrival at Hong Kong.

8. DH launches trial run of supplementary platform "Electronic COVID-19 Medical Surveillance System"

   The Department of Health (DH) said on July 27 to further facilitate the self-monitoring of inbound travellers undergoing quarantine at designated quarantine hotels (DQHs), the DH has developed a supplementary platform, "Electronic COVID-19 Medical Surveillance System", for a trial run. Under the trial run, those who stay at DQHs can, acting on their own will, choose to register their rapid antigen test results and personal health status through the system.

9. More point-to-point transport services to convey inbound persons from airport to designated quarantine hotels

   The Government has enhanced the existing free point-to-point transport services for inbound persons, and also introduced new options of self-paid transport services, with a view to shortening the journey time from HKIA to DQHs, a Government spokesman said…DQH taxis operate from 8am to 2am daily. Inbound persons who opt to go to DQHs by taxis at their own expense should inform the staff at the Arrival Hall after completing immigration procedures and baggage claim. They should go to the designated area for waiting and boarding DQH taxis as instructed.

10. New visiting and staff testing arrangements for residential care homes

    From August 1, onwards, all visitors (except for official visitors) are required to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 (PCR tests) prior to the visit and provide negative PCR test results obtained within 48 hours in order to visit RCHs. To strengthen RCHs' anti-epidemic barrier and protect RCH residents, the Government will require all RCH staff, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated, to undergo PCR tests once every seven days starting from July 27.

11. [E] “Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test” launched

    The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) launched the “Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test” on March 7. People who have tested positive by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) can register direct their results via the platform, to facilitate the CHP to grasp the epidemic situation more accurately as well as to provide more appropriate support for patients with higher risks.
    
    The link to the System is www.chp.gov.hk/ratp.

12. [F]  Extension of relief measures to local public transport sector under sixth round of Anti-epidemic Fund

    
    

13. Extended application period for Subsidy Scheme for Encouraging Early Deployment of 5G

    
    

14. [G]  Hospital Authority appreciates the generous donation from Sun Hung Kai Properties

    The Hospital Authority expresses heartfelt appreciation to Sun Hung Kai Properties for its generous donation of 5 000 Anti-epidemic care packs to support frontline healthcare workers fighting against the epidemic, boosting morale; and, at the same time, to provide 25 medical disinfection robots to HA for use.

15. Hospital Authority appreciates generous donation from Shaw Foundation

    The Hospital Authority expressed its heartfelt appreciation to the Shaw Foundation for its generous donation of $10 million to support healthcare workers.

16. Hospital Authority appreciates generous donation from Li Ka Shing Foundation

    
    

17. Hospital Authority appreciates generous donation from New World Development Company Limited

    
    

18. Hospital Authority appreciates the generous donation from Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link