REGULAR UPDATES ON THE CORONAVIRUS
READ: Chief Executive's letter to Consul-Generals and international Chambers
READ: Quarantine of parents and/or minors Q&A
ELECTRONIC TESTING RECORD SYSTEM:
The Hong Kong SAR Government has set up an electronic testing record system for citizens to download their COVID-19 negative test results. For now, it accommodates tests conducted by the Hospital Authority, Department of Health and community centres, but the Government is looking to expand the scope to tests conducted by private institutions as well.
The same system will eventually be used to host vaccination records, using iAM Smart for identity authentication. (Please see the press release announcement here.)
The Government is preparing for the logistics and implementation of city-wide vaccination. The details will be announced once ready. Meanwhile, if you are interested in learning more about the three kinds of vaccine being procured, please visit: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/covid-vaccine.html
(From Elizabeth Fung, Political Assistant to Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development)
Latest situation of COVID-19 cases
https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/local_situation_covid19_en.pdf
CE visits community testing centres in various districts
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202012/06/P2020120600780.htm
The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited four community testing centres in Quarry Bay, Yau Tong, Tseung Kwan O and Tuen Mun on December 6 afternoon to learn more about their operation and the situation of members of the public undergoing tests there.
Vending Machines Set Up at 10 MTR Stations for Public to Collect COVID-19 Specimen Collection Packs
https://www.mtr.com.hk/archive/corporate/en/press_release/PR20080E_Media.pdf
Following communication with relevant government departments, 10 stations across the MTR network have been identified, namely Ngau Tau Kok, Kwai Fong, North Point, Tiu Keng Leng, Wong Chuk Hang, Tai Wai, Tai Po Market, Siu Hong, Kowloon and Tsing Yi stations. About 10,000 specimen collection packs supplied by a government contractor per day will be, in general, evenly distributed to the vending machines located in the unpaid area of these stations.
Government to arrange COVID-19 testing for residents living at Block 8 of Kwai Shing West Estate
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202012/06/P2020120600816.htm
The Government is very concerned about a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases at Block 8 of Kwai Shing West Estate recently. The Housing Department has arranged deep cleansing for the common area of the whole building and is assisting the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health to distribute specimen bottles to the residents at Block 8 for the deep throat saliva test. The residents should return the specimen bottles to the collection point in the lobby of Block 8 before 11am on December 7.
Kowloon Centre Cluster announces an incident on patient specimens handling
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202012/06/P2020120600708.htm
Robert Black General Out-patient Clinic (RB GOPC) collected deep throat saliva specimen for testing of COVID-19 from 26 patients on December 1, which were scheduled to be sent to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital laboratory for testing. According to usual practice, the specimens should be placed in a designated collection box to send to the laboratory. However, three specimens were mistakenly placed in the backup collection box by clinic staff and had not been sent out.
Websites
Fight Against the Coronavirus
https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html
CHP's geospatial dashboard on COVID-19
https://chp-dashboard.geodata.gov.hk/nia/en.html
"LeaveHomeSafe" exposure notification app
https://www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk/en/
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT UPDATES
Public Hospital Update
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202009/21/P2020092100547.htm
SED visits school on preparatory work for face-to-face class resumption
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202009/21/P2020092100629.htm
All schools in Hong Kong will resume face-to-face classes in two stages, with Secondary and Primary One, Five and Six as well as Kindergarten Three starting on September 23 while those remaining will start on September 29. In addition to providing the "Health Protection Measures for Schools" guidelines, the EDB has, via its Regional Education Offices, maintained close contact with schools to provide advice and support as and when necessary with a view to helping them prepare for face-to-face class resumption. The EDB has also provided all primary and secondary schools in the public sector and schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme with spare masks for students in need.
Launch of CCF one-off allowance for new arrivals from low-income families
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202009/21/P2020092100277.htm
The Community Care Fund (CCF) on September 21 announced the launch of the One-off Allowance for New Arrivals from Low-income Families Programme on September 27. The Programme aims to provide an allowance to eligible new arrivals to help them adapt in the community as soon as possible to better prepare themselves for permanent settlement in Hong Kong, and to relieve their financial pressure. Each eligible person can get a $10,000 allowance. The Programme is administered by the CCF Task Force under the Commission on Poverty. The CCF Secretariat is providing administrative support to the Programme. Announcing the details at a media briefing today, the Chairperson of the CCF Task Force, Dr Law Chi-kwong, said that the CCF has set aside around $2,131.04 million to implement the programme. It is estimated that about 203,000 persons will benefit.
Extension of rent concession period for Housing Authority's non-domestic tenants
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202009/21/P2020092100185.htm
The extension of the rent concession implemented by the HA is in line with the latest helping measures announced by the Government on September 15 to further tide businesses and people over this difficult time amid the prolonged epidemic.
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT UPDATES
Shortened operating hours of passenger clearance services at Shenzhen Bay PortConsolidation of test services at AsiaWorld-Expo
Government further clarifies eligibility criteria of Retail Sector Subsidy Scheme
Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation
Q&A on new requirements to reduce gatherings
Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirement and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation
Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation
All overseas arrivals in HK from 19 March are subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days
>> Government website on COVID-19
|Useful links
- CHP website on coronavirus
- CHP's geospatial dashboard on coronavirus infections
- OT&P Healthcare: COVID-19 questions answered
- WHO Coronavirus website
- BrandHK Update Page
- All press releases today
- Secretary for Justice's blog
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Fact sheet on the latest novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) |
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Legal Issues in Times 24 February 2020 |
https://covid19.mayerbrown.com/ Mayer Brown has recently launched our COVID-19 Response blog and web portal, as well as a Global Travel Navigator, designed to help clients and contacts understand the latest developments, access the information they need and make critical business decisions.
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Survival for SMEs https://home.kpmg/au/en/home/insights/2020/04/covid-19-survival-for-sme.html |
