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, Safety and Environment Office
Dear Sir/Madam,
Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines
1. Government phases out deep throat saliva as recognised specimen for compulsory testing
Risk-based, frequent and accurate virus testing has all along been a key to Hong Kong's success in the fight against the epidemic. The Government announced that further steps will be taken to replace deep throat saliva specimen by combined nasal and throat swab samples collected by professionals (professional swab sampling) as recognised compulsory testing method except for certain circumstances, with a view to enhancing the effectiveness of COVID-19 testing arrangements.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/07/P2021090700940.htm
2. Government updates list of places of recognised vaccination records
Hong Kong residents who hold vaccination records issued by the relevant authorities of India, Malaysia, Pakistan or Thailand in the prescribed formats can board a flight for Hong Kong from Group A specified places. The Government has also concluded discussions with the Government of Korea on the arrangements regarding the recognition of vaccination records.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/06/P2021090600671.htm
Points to Note for Quarantine for Inbound Travellers: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html
3. Government resumes quarantine exemption for persons returning from both Mainland areas other than Guangdong Province and Macao under Return2hk Scheme
Hong Kong residents staying in Mainland provinces and municipalities other than Guangdong Province, and Macao, upon fulfilment of all specified conditions under the Return2hk Scheme, including: not having stayed in places other than Hong Kong, the Mainland or Macao and any areas that are included in the list of at-risk places temporarily inapplicable under the Return2hk Scheme published on the Return2hk Scheme thematic website, in the past 14 days before arriving in Hong Kong (not including the period where a person has been undergoing compulsory quarantine in the Mainland or Macao under the requirement in that place) could be exempted from the 14-day compulsory quarantine requirement when returning to Hong Kong. However, they must still undergo compulsory testing according to instructions.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/07/P2021090700888.htm
4. Same-day ticket arrangement for COVID-19 vaccination to be expanded to cover target groups
Starting from September 9, 21 Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) (except those run by private hospitals) under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme will distribute same-day tickets to the following five target groups so that they can receive vaccination in a CVC at a designated time slot on the day of distribution:
(1) Staff of residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and nursing homes;
(2) Staff of medical organisations;
(3) Staff of schools, school bus drivers and escorts (commonly known as "nannies");
(4) Staff of catering business, bars/pubs; and
(5) Construction site personnel.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/07/P2021090700298.htm
More information on COVID-19 vaccines
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. 政府逐步取消接納深喉唾液為強制檢測樣本的安排
以風險為本、頻密而準確的病毒檢測一直是香港成功抗疫的關鍵。政府宣布，為提升2019冠狀病毒病檢測措施的成效，除個別情況外，將進一步以專業人員採集鼻腔和咽喉合併拭子樣本的採樣（專業拭子採樣）取代深喉唾液樣本，作為政府接納的強制檢測方式。
詳情可參閱：https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/07/P2021090700845.htm
2. 政府更新認可疫苗接種紀錄地區名單
持有由印度、馬來西亞、巴基斯坦或泰國相關主管當局發出並符合指定格式疫苗接種紀錄的香港居民，可從A組指明地區登機來港。政府亦已與韓國政府完成商討認可疫苗接種紀錄的安排。
詳情可參閱：https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/06/P2021090600670.htm
抵港人士的檢疫須知：https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/chi/inbound-travel.html
3. 政府恢復從廣東省以外其他內地地區及澳門通過「回港易」計劃返港豁免檢疫安排
身處廣東省以外內地其他省市及澳門的香港居民，只要符合「回港易」計劃下的所有指明條件，包括在回港前的14天（不包括該人士在內地或澳門根據當地的要求而須完成的強制檢疫期）不曾到過香港、內地或澳門以外的其他地區，以及任何載列於「回港易」計劃暫不適用風險地區名單的地區，回港時可免去須接受14天強制檢疫的安排，但仍需按指示接受強制核酸檢測。
詳情可參閱：https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/07/P2021090700846.htm
4. 「即日籌」接種新冠疫苗安排擴展至特定群組
由九月九日起，2019冠狀病毒病疫苗接種計劃下的21間社區疫苗接種中心（私家醫院除外）將向以下五個特定群組人士派發「即日籌」，供他們在派發籌號當天的指定時段於接種中心接種疫苗：
（1）安老院、殘疾人士院舍及護養院員工；
（2）醫療機構員工；
（3）學校教職員，校巴司機及保姆；
（4）餐飲業務和酒吧或酒館員工；及
（5）建造業工地人員。
詳情可參閱：https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202109/07/P2021090700310.htm
更多新冠疫苗資訊：
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
