Dear Staff and Students,
We would like to share the following message on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) from Department of Health about Government extends social distancing measures under Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance | Launch of "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app.
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Health, Safety and Environment Office
Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Government extends social distancing measures under Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance | Launch of "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app
After taking into account the latest public health risk assessment, the Government decided to gazette directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) yesterday (November 11) to maintain the social distancing measures currently in place. These measures will take effect at 0.00am on November 13 for a period of seven days till November 19.
While the third wave of the local epidemic has been subsiding after reaching the peak in late July, new confirmed cases with unknown sources of infection have still been identified over the past week, indicating the existence of silent transmission chains in the community. In addition, it is worrying that the number of locally acquired cases has shown an increasing trend in recent days and that there are small cluster outbreaks in the community as a result of, inter alia, anti-epidemic fatigue, frequent social activities and delay in taking tests. Meanwhile, the global epidemic situation has continued to worsen, with the number of new confirmed cases hitting a record high of some 600 000 cases daily.
With the relaxation of social distancing measures, members of the public appeared to become less alert in combating the epidemic. Amongst others, there was even a new cluster relating to a staycation at a local hotel identified in early November. In light of the staycation-related local cases identified in recent days, while such gatherings in private places may not contravene the social distancing measures, they should be avoided as far as possible from a public health perspective. While resuming social and economic activities, members of the public should continue to stay vigilant in maintaining personal hygiene, and complying with anti-epidemic measures and social distancing, with a view to putting the epidemic under control as soon as possible.
Moreover, the Government has launched the "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app. Tapping technology to combat the pandemic, the app aims to encourage the public to keep a more precise record of their whereabouts, minimising the risk of further transmission of the virus. There are currently over 6 000 public and private venues that have pledged support for the scheme. The mobile app can also be used directly in over 18 000 taxis. The Government has been actively engaging with trades and businesses, and would welcome more sectors to participate in the scheme and contribute to the epidemic prevention and control work in Hong Kong. Participating public venues include government office buildings, sports centres, swimming pools, libraries, markets, cooked food markets, community halls/centres, building lobbies and shopping centres of public housing estates, hospitals, clinics, post offices, public works and construction sites. Other participating venues from various sectors and businesses include restaurants, bars or pubs, karaoke establishments, clubs, fitness centres and banks. Venue QR codes will be posted at the participating locations for the public to scan via the app.
The ''LeaveHomeSafe'' mobile app supports iOS, Android and Huawei mobile devices and will be available for public download from November 16. More details are available on the ''LeaveHomeSafe'' website (www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk).
For more details, please refer to the press release(s) and the Annex:
Government extends social distancing measures under Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202011/11/P2020111100658.htm
Launch of "LeaveHomeSafe" COVID-19 exposure notification mobile app
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202011/11/P2020111100367.htm
Please visit our Facebook and Thematic Website (https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html) regularly for further information and updates.
We would like to solicit your support to disseminate the information to your colleagues, work associates and/or business partners so that they could adopt proper preventive measures. Thank you very much for your support.
Department of Health
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敬啟者：
2019冠狀病毒病的最新資訊
政府延續《預防及控制疾病條例》下的社交距離措施｜政府推出「安心出行」流動應用程式
考慮到最新的公共衞生風險評估，政府於十一月十一日就《預防及控制疾病（規定及指示）（業務及處所）規例》（第599F章）、《預防及控制疾病（禁止羣組聚集）規例》（第599G章）及《預防及控制疾病（佩戴口罩）規例》（第599I章）下的指示及指明刊憲，延續現行的社交距離措施。這些措施將由十一月十三日零時零分起生效，為期七天，直至十一月十九日。
雖然本港第三波疫情於七月底達至高峰後逐步回落，但過去一周仍持續出現源頭不明的新增確診個案，反映社區中仍存在隱形傳播鏈。加上近日本地感染個案有上升趨勢，市民因抗疫疲勞、社交頻繁及延誤檢測等各種原因，出現小型爆發群組，情況令人憂慮。同時，全球疫情持續惡化，新增個案數字創出每日約60萬宗的新高。
隨着社交距離措施的放寬，市民的抗疫意識似乎有所鬆懈。其中，十一月初更出現一個於本地酒店度假（即一般稱為staycation）的群組。就近日出現多宗涉及在酒店度假的本地個案而言，縱使進行這類型在私人地方的聚會未必違反社交距離措施，但從公共衞生角度，市民大眾應盡量避免有關聚會。在恢復社交及經濟活動的同時，請繼續保持防疫意識，做好良好個人防護、致力遵守防疫措施及保持社交距離，以令疫情盡快受控。
另外，政府已推出感染風險通知「安心出行」流動應用程式（LeaveHomeSafe），旨在鼓勵市民養成記錄出行的習慣，有助減低病毒進一步擴散的風險，利用科技支援抗疫。
目前已有超過6 000個公私營場地率先參與計劃，以及在全港18 000多部的士可以直接使用「安心出行」流動應用程式。政府正積極邀請並歡迎更多業界及商戶加入，共同為香港疫情防控工作出一分力。參與計劃的公共場所包括政府辦公大樓、體育館、游泳池、圖書館、街市、熟食中心、社區會堂／中心、公共屋邨大堂及購物中心、醫院、診所、郵局、工務工程及建築地盤等，以及不同業界及商戶的場所，如食肆、酒吧、卡拉OK、會所、健身中心、銀行等。參與場所均會張貼「安心出行」場所二維碼，供市民使用應用程式。
「安心出行」流動應用程式支援iOS、Android及華為的流動裝置，由十一月十六日起可供市民下載使用。詳情請參閱「安心出行」網站（www.leavehomesafe.gov.hk）。
詳情請參閱有關新聞公報及附件：
政府延續《預防及控制疾病條例》下的社交距離措施
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202011/11/P2020111100260.htm
政府推出「安心出行」流動應用程式
https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202011/11/P2020111100353.htm
請定期留意我們的Facebook及專題網站（https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/chi/index.html），以獲取更多及更新的資訊。
希望你可以將有關資訊與你的同事、合作者及／或業務伙伴分享，讓他們都能採取合適的預防措施。非常感謝你的支持。
衞生署
