Announcements

In view of the COVID-19 outbreak in certain countries/areas, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health urged the public against travelling to Hubei Province where there is widespread community transmission of COVID-19 virus, and to avoid unnecessary travel to other provinces/cities of Mainland China, Iran, Italy (Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and Veneto regions) and Korea. 

The Committee on Health Promotion and Protection would like to advise the University members to avoid unnecessary travel. When travelling to countries/areas with community transmission of COVID-19 virus, they should avoid close contact with persons with fever or respiratory symptoms. If it is unavoidable to come into contact with them, put on a surgical mask and continue to do so until 14 days after returning to Hong Kong. 

In light of the latest situation of COVID-19 overseas, CHP has updated the reporting criteria to enhance surveillance of suspected cases. Medical practitioners are requested to report to the CHP any individual fulfilling the following for further investigation: 

• Presented with fever or acute respiratory illness or pneumonia; and 
• Either one of the following conditions within 14 days before onset of symptom:
1. With travel history to a place with active community transmission of COVID-19; or
2. Had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

For more information on COVID-19, please visit the following websites:

• Government’s “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (http://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html)  
• Centre for Health Protection’s “Countries/areas with reported cases of COVID-19” (https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/statistics_of_the_cases_novel_coronavirus_infection_en.pdf) 
• Statutory notifiable infectious diseases in the First Schedule to the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599) (https://cdis.chp.gov.hk/CDIS_CENO_ONLINE/disease.html)