Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines - 11 February 2022

Dear Staff and Students,

We would like to share the following message from Department of Health about Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines.

Health and Safety Office

Dear Sir/Madam,

Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines

1. Government tightens social distancing measures in view of changes in epidemic situation

The Government announced the gazettal of legislative amendments under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), and the tightening of social distancing measures to take effect from February 10 till February 23.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/09/P2022020900022.htm

2. Special work arrangements for government employees to be extended

As the local epidemic situation remains severe, it is necessary for the Government to continue to take measures to significantly reduce the flow of people and social contacts in the community so as to curb further spreading of the virus. A Government spokesman announced that the special work arrangements for government employees will be extended until February 18. Save for those involved in the provision of emergency services and essential public services and in anti-epidemic efforts, all other government employees will be arranged to continue to work from home as far as possible. The Government will closely monitor the epidemic situation and review the arrangements before February 18.

The spokesman appeals to employers again to allow their staff members to work from home as far as possible so as to reduce the flow of people and social contact in the community.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/10/P2022020900472.htm

3. "StayHomeSafe" Scheme launched

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) said in view of the serious epidemic situation, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19, safeguard people's health and protect the healthcare system from collapse, the Government launched the "StayHomeSafe" Scheme. The CHP has started to arrange close contacts and household contacts of close contacts who are deemed appropriate after assessment to undergo home quarantine for 14 days and four days respectively.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/08/P2022020800726.htm

4. "Vaccine pass" extended to cover new RCHE and RCHD residents from March 14

The Government announced earlier that the "vaccine pass" arrangement will be extended to cover all persons to be newly admitted to the residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and the residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) for long-term abode. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) said that the relevant arrangement will be implemented in all RCHEs and RCHDs from March 14.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/04/P2022020400589.htm

5. 49th round of compulsory testing for staff members of RCHEs, RCHDs and nursing homes to commence shortly

The Government announced that the 49th round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/05/P2022020400607.htm

More information on COVID-19 vaccines:

www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/

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

******************************************

敬啟者： 2019冠狀病毒病及疫苗的最新資訊

1. 政府因應疫情變化收緊社交距離措施

政府公布，就《預防及控制疾病條例》（第599章）下的法例修訂刊憲，並收緊一系列社交距離措施，生效期間為二月十日至二月二十三日。

詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/09/P2022020800738.htm

2. 政府延長僱員特別上班安排

因應本地疫情仍然非常嚴峻，政府有需要繼續採取措施，大幅減少社區的人流和社交接觸，阻止病毒在社區海嘯式傳播。政府發言人宣布，政府僱員特別上班安排將會延長至二月十八日，除了提供緊急和必須公共服務和參與防疫有關的人員外，其他政府僱員盡量繼續留在家中工作。政府會密切監察疫情的發展，二月十八日前再檢視情況。

發言人再次呼籲僱主盡量讓員工在家工作，以減少社區人流和社交接觸。

詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202202/10/P2022020900467.htm

3. 政府推行「居安抗疫」計劃

衞生署衞生防護中心表示，現時新冠疫情非常嚴峻，為盡快遏止病毒擴散，保障市民健康，避免拖垮醫療系統，政府推行「居安抗疫」計劃。中心安排經評估為合適的密切接觸者和密切接觸者的同住家人進行為期分別14天和四天的家居檢疫。