Press Releases

Amoy Gardens Block E residents can return home if cleared medical check-up

The isolation order placed on Block E, Amoy Gardens will expire at midnight, April 9 (Wednesday) and residents may return home after their flats have been disinfected by the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), a government spokesman said.

Those residents who have been temporarily housed at camps will be allowed to leave subject to the opinion of medical officers. The Department of Health will begin medical check-up for Block E residents now staying in the three camps at Lady MacLehose, Lei Yue Mun and Sai Kung in the morning of April 10. Residents who have shown symptoms of the disease will be sent to hospital for further management. Otherwise, they will be discharged from the camps.

Some residents have indicated wishes to return to their homes in Amoy Gardens as soon as possible. "We shall therefore make special arrangements (including medical check-up in the evening) for those who have registered such wishes to leave the camps at about midnight, April 9,"the spokesman said.

Block E residents who moved away from the building before the issue of the isolation order are free to return to the building after the isolation order has expired. "The FEHD will set up a station on the ground floor of Block E to give advice on disinfection and cleansing to residents from 9 am on the day. All residents in the area are welcome to seek advice from the station," the spokesman added.

The disinfection of individual flats by the FEHD started today (April 8) and will continue tomorrow. The disinfection is focusing on the kitchen and toilet of each flat. Particular attention is paid to sinks, bath tubs and drainage points as the causative agent of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome can survive much longer in the presence of organic materials.

The FEHD has also taken pest control measures in Amoy Gardens and the surrounding area. The common areas, including corridors, lifts and lift lobbies, back staircases, the gates of entrances to the building and letterboxes were disinfected yesterday. Water storage tanks were also cleaned.

"We are satisfied with the progress of the disinfection work and believe that Block E flats which have been disinfected can be re-occupied after the expiry of the current isolation order," the spokesman said.

End/Tuesday, April 8, 2003
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