Press Releases
SFH on human swine flu
Following is the transcript of remarks made by the Secretary for Food and
Health, Dr York Chow, after attending a radio programme today (May 2):
Reporter: Since the case has been imported to Hong Kong, would you ask
airline carriers to urge their flight attendants to wear masks?
Secretary for Food and Health: First of all, we have informed all the
airlines coming to Hong Kong that they should be vigilant in noticing any
passengers who might have symptoms of flu. If they do, they need to give
face mask to him or her and also the neighbouring passengers as well. We
also advise that if that is the case, the crew should also wear mask when
serving those passengers. It is more important for each airline to ensure
that each airplane would carry sufficient protective gears for their staff
as well as the necessary antiseptics and so on for their passengers. So, it
is something that I think is important. And the staff actually feels unwell
and uncomfortable for not wearing a mask, I think they should be more
flexible and allow them to wear.
Reporter: (Schools to resume on Monday?)
Secretary for Food and Health: The Emergency Response Level Steering
Committee will meet again this afternoon. We will assess the situation with
the Education Bureau to decide whether there are additional measures that
need to be taken and contingency plans to be arranged. Since schools will be
resumed on Monday, the Education Bureau perhaps would need to make a very
clear instruction tomorrow on whether the schools will be resumed or not. If
the situation is not going to be worsen, I would advise to resume school.
But it is important for parents and also students to ensure that they are
healthy if they are going to school. If they have any symptoms of flu or
upper respiratory infection, they should stay at home.
Reporter: (inaudible)
Secretary for Food and Health: If we find that any more infection in other
places, we will look at the situation to decide whether we need to isolate
the place or quarantine those contacts. At the moment, because this is the
first case, we thought that this is also an appropriate time for us to
contain this infection before it spreads further. If the situation is going
to spread further, just like some of the other cities in Mexico and also the
United States, then our next battle line will shift to the community and
also to the hospitals. The reason why we quarantine people now is not only
for their own safety, but also to have a clearer understanding of what
prophylactic anti-virus can actually have. If prophylactic is going to
happen, perhaps in future cases, we might not actually need to have a place
for quarantine but just the prophylactic, the so-called home quarantine will
be sufficient. I cannot make that decision at the moment, we need to have
more information and experience in this virus before we can do that.
(Please also refer to the
Chinese session of the transcript)
Ends/Saturday, May 2, 2009
Issued at HKT 13:17
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