Media Releases

PolyU Study Shows One in Eight Not Wearing Face Masks Properly • Almost 80% of People Reusing Them • Experts Urge Users to Wear Face Masks Correctly and Formulate Guidelines on Reuse to Minimise Contagion Risks

The outbreak of COVID-19 in Hong Kong has recently eased slightly. The number of confirmed cases has declined, and we see the first signs of success in the fight against the pandemic. However, both the government and experts have called on the public to continue stringent anti-contagion measures for the foreseeable future, in particular, to wear face masks and maintain good personal hygiene. The Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) conducted a research study from February to April 2020 on the behaviour and attitudes of Hong Kong people towards the use of face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results were published in EClinicalMedicine (https://info.thelancet.com/eclinm-covid-19), a clinical journal published under the auspices of The Lancet. In February, the research team conducted an observational study of 10,211 people in different areas of Hong Kong, recording how people wear their masks. The study found that most people wore face masks when going out (95%) of whom 84% wore disposable surgical masks. However, more than one-eighth (13%) wore their surgical masks incorrectly; major mistakes include: wearing a mask inside-out or upside-down (36%) and wearing it too low exposing their nostrils and/or mouth (43%). The team has also been conducting an online survey since mid-March to collect local citizens’ views and attitudes on wearing face marks. Among the 2,859 responses collected so far, most respondents (94%) agreed that wearing a face mask could prevent infection and reduce the risk of viral transmission in the community. However, a significant number of respondents said that they would reuse face masks (76%), with people in the 46-65 and >65 age groups showing a higher percentage of reuse. Despite heightened awareness of the need for prevention of viral spread, many fail to wear their masks properly According to Dr Shara Lee, Associate Professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics who led the study, the majority of the public have been on high alert and have taken effective preventive measures since the outbreak of COVID-19, and wearing face masks is seen as one of the key measures in the fight against the disease. “Our studies found that people have a high awareness of COVID-19 and agree that wearing face masks is an effective way to prevent viral transmission and community outbreak,” said Dr Lee. Many of them put this into practice by consistently wearing a face mask. However, despite months of public health education, one in eight have not mastered the correct way to wear a surgical mask. Surprisingly, nearly 80% of the respondents said they would reuse them. This shows that reuse of disposable face masks is widely accepted by the public, probably due to reasons such as an inadequate supply, poor awareness a mask’s disposable nature, financial reasons or receiving incorrect information. These factors potentially increase the risk of transmission and infection, and project a false sense of security when people wear a mask in the belief that they are now protected. The situation is worrying. The research team identified some common mistakes when using face masks: Wearing the mask inside-out or upside-down Positioning it too low on the face, exposing the nostrils and/or mouth Touching the outer layer of the mask during use or disposal Pulling down the mask when eating or smoking, or hanging the mask around the neck/other part of the body Keep up the anti-pandemic effort Do your bit by wearing a face mask correctly The fight against the COVID-19 outbreak requires perseverance and the cooperation of every member of the public. The research team advises that the public should “do the right thing” by adhering to the proper practices of wearing face masks at all times and keep up the hard-earned effort in containing the community outbreak. The team also recommends solutions to improve protection from infection due to improper use of face masks, including: Experts formulating comprehensible guidelines for safe handling and storage of face masks for reuse, to minimize the risk of both virus spread and self-contamination Publicity and education on the potential risks of incorrect use of face masks Printing a symbol on the outer layer of the face mask to indicate correct orientation Inclusion of information made available by face mask manufacturers, e.g. a clear visual guide or QR code printed on the box for easier access.   ***** End *****

留家抗疫 不忘增值 「理大與您: 網上專題講座系列」即將上線 (only Chinese version)

留家抗疫  不忘增值 「理大與您: 網上專題講座系列」即將上線 (only Chinese version)  

PolyU Senior Management donates 10 per cent of their salaries to support the needy students

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about severe impact on the global economy. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today announced that the senior management including the President and all Vice Presidents will donate 10% of their salaries over a period of 12 months from April 2020 to help students with financial hardship. The details of the financial assistance scheme will be announced in due course. President Jin-Guang TENG said, “The pandemic has been seriously affecting all businesses, and we are particularly concerned with the financial challenges faced by some of our students and their families due to the current situation. We hope this financial assistance scheme will help them in tiding over the difficult times.”   *****  End  *****

Bracing for a long battle against COVID-19: General Use Face Shields designed by PolyU ready for mass production

The situation in Hong Kong has become more critical amid the rise of confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections. Experts have warned that members of the public should prepare for a long fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past few months, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been closely monitoring the situation and has devised plans to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. In February 2020, PolyU designed and started producing disposable face shields for the Hospital Authority in order to alleviate the immediate need for protective gear amongst frontline medical professionals. PolyU today announced the launch of two new reusable face shields, namely “General Use Face Shield” and “Extra Protection Face Shield”, both of which will soon be available at affordable prices. It is hoped that the face shields could provide enhanced protection for the public in their daily lives and working environment thus minimising the risks of virus transmission in the community.

PolyU designs a new 3D-printed face shield for HA • Mass production in local factories will help fulfil the imminent needs of medical personnel

In the fight against the coronavirus epidemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face shields and disposable gowns are badly needed in hospitals. With a view to alleviating the imminent need for protective gear amongst frontline medical professionals, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has been collaborating with Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QE) and the Hospital Authority (HA) respectively to design and produce 3D-printed eye shields and face shields. PolyU has mobilised all its 3D printers in its University Research Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP) and in other departments to operate 24 hours a day to produce 700 eye shields and over 800 face shields over the last 10 days.  With support from the local manufacturing industry with which PolyU has strong connections, the production of face shields has been increased to 10,000 pieces per day starting from today, and will reach 30,000 pieces per day by late March. It is hoped that this steady supply of face shields will help meet the imminent needs of Hong Kong's frontline medical personnel. "During the coronavirus outbreak, solidarity is one of the essential elements to battle the disease. The partnership between PolyU, HA/QE and the industry is a good example that embodies the spirit of 'when one place suffers, aid come from all sides'. We join hands to overcome these difficult times together," said Professor Alexander WAI Ping-kong, Vice President (Research Development), Deputy President and Provost designate, PolyU. Dr Vivien CHUANG, HA Chief Manager (Infection, Emergency and Contingency) said, PolyU has made every effort to develop a swift solution for rapidly producing face shields and to help us line up domestic production, thus we can fill up the stockpile of face shields to meet our need during the epidemic.  "I would like to express our deep gratitude to PolyU and all local manufacturers for their full support and active participation to make this meaningful collaboration a successful one." Dr Chuang added. From design, to mould-making, and finally to production took just a fortnight. This is very exceptional in terms of the short time taken in manufacturing a product, and thanks are due to the dedication and seamless support from the industry. "Since the face shield is a one-off disposable item, we chose a less expensive PLA filament material to develop the 3D printed frame and attached it with a plastic clear film. We also leveraged the studies of our School of Design in the comparison of head size between Asians and Westerners in order to design a face shield that better fits Chinese wearers. Designed by PolyU and made in Hong Kong, this is a testament to the competence and capability of the Hong Kong manufacturing industry. We can do it and we must do it. I am especially heartened by our friends in industry who have pledged their support without a second thought," said Professor HC MAN, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Director of University Research Facility in 3D Printing, PolyU.   ***** END *****

理大就學生宿舍自我隔離之安排 (only Chinese version)

理大就學生宿舍自我隔離之安排 (only Chinese version)

PolyU develops the world’s most comprehensive rapid, automated multiplex diagnostic system for detecting up to 40 infectious respiratory pathogens (including novel coronavirus) in a single test

Infectious diseases represent an important portion of global public health concerns¸ in particular with regard to the current global outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The challenge of frontline diagnosis in hospitals, clinics and ports is that infectious diseases could exhibit similar symptoms or can be asymptomatic. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today announced the development of the world's most comprehensive automated multiplex diagnostic system (the System) which includes a fully automated machine and a multiplex full-screening panel for the point-of-care genetic testing (POCT) of respiratory infectious disease including the 2019-nCoV. In one single test and within approximately one hour, the System can identify 30 to 40 pathogens including seasonal influenza viruses, such as influenza A subtypes H1, H2 and H3, avian influenza viruses H5, H7 and H9, human respiratory syncytial virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and 2019-nCoV. Leveraging the current polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, the system is fully automated from sample nucleic acid extraction and amplification, to signal detection and analysis. The System adopts patent-pending microfluidic and biochemical technologies that achieve ultra-sensitive detection (down to 5 gene copies) and simultaneous differentiation of various pathogens with extremely high specificity. It is also user-friendly, with manual handling not being required throughout the testing process. "Early and accurate detection of pathogens could contribute to effective and efficient disease control and management, and prevent spreading of any contagious pathogens. It benefits the patients as well because timely therapy can then be applied to prevent complications. The existing challenge is that we lack full panel POCT technologies for early and on-site diagnosis, which should ideally be capable of differentiating between different pathogens at the same time. This newly-developed system could be a practical solution," said Professor Lau. PolyU and The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have established the Respiratory Virus Research Foundation ("the Foundation") in 2015 and have since then been working on various innovative technologies to tackle existing and emerging respiratory infectious diseases. The Foundation has fostered various collaborations, including those on vaccine and rapid diagnostics respectively. The former is led by HKU Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, Henry Fok Professor in Infectious Diseases, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases from the Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine; the latter is led by PolyU Professor Terence Lau Lok-ting, Director of Innovation and Technology Development and Adjunct Professor at the Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology. Ir. Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong, Vice President (Research Development), Deputy President and Provost designate of PolyU said, "In this difficult and challenging time that Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and even the global community is encountering, it is important that the research community can quickly pool their expertise and resources to develop practical solutions. The PolyU-HKU partnership is a prime example of effective coupling of multidisciplinary innovation and translation." The research team for this project is led by PolyU Professor Terence Lau Lok-ting and supported by HKU Professor Yuen Kwok-yung. Through collaborative efforts, the team has spent the past four years to develop the System. In the past year, the team has optimised  the System and conducted trials on different clinical samples. In the midst of the 2019-nCoV outbreak, the team has also conducted tests on clinical samples using the system. Professor Yuen commented, "The System's versatility and capability will provide for comprehensive monitoring during disease outbreaks or routine surveillance. It will become a crucial technology for ensuring the effective control of infectious diseases, medical diagnosis, and treatment."  "This fully automated, quantitative rapid diagnostic platform possesses a proprietary technology which overcomes limitations of existing technologies by ensuring sensitivity – and hence significantly enhancing the reliability of test results. Most importantly, our innovation can substantially reduce the cost of the microfluidic cartridge manufacturing thus making it feasible for wide adoption. It is ready for mass-scale production," added Professor Lau. The research team has received indispensable support from a local biotechnology company Avalon Biomedical Management Ltd for this project.  "We are honoured to be able to participate in this project and are delighted to see this important milestone in the collaboration between Professor Lau and Professor Yuen. We believe this advanced point-of-care diagnostic system can revolutionize the current diagnostic paradigm and provide a powerful tool to fight against infectious diseases," said Dr Manson Fok, Chairman of the Board of the company, Executive & Trust Committee member of Macau Henry Fok Foundation and Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology. Humankind's modern day battles against epidemics remain a major challenge and it is vital that we keep learning from the past and equipping ourselves with the best technologies available. Towards this end the research team will continue to urgently focus on developments to ensure the system's robustness and cost-effectiveness, and to collaborate with relevant parties on clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and frontline applications of this POCT system. Video sharing by HKU Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, Henry Fok Professor in Infectious Diseases, Chair Professor of Infectious Diseases from the Department of Microbiology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine : https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ah36VjAc5xZyslvcbf7xhXn4XtvE?e=0FDLSl   ***** END *****

關於網上傳聞理大宿舍成為隔離營 (only Chinese version)

關於網上傳聞理大宿舍成為隔離營 (only Chinese version)

理大回應有關研發「布口罩」的報導 (only Chinese version)

理大回應有關研發「布口罩」的報導 (only Chinese version)

PolyU announces further suspension of face-to-face teaching until 1 March 2020

In view of the latest development of the novel coronavirus epidemic, the Senior Management has decided that all face-to-face teaching will be further suspended until 1 March 2020 (inclusive).  From 10 February 2020 to 1 March 2020, online teaching (plus e-learning) will be conducted instead.  Further details of the teaching arrangements will be announced shortly. Before the resumption of face-to-face teaching, all students, including sub-degree, undergraduate, taught postgraduate and research postgraduate students, are strongly advised to stay at home instead of returning to the campus or the hostels.  For non-local students who are now outside Hong Kong, please stay at home during this period for online learning and return to Hong Kong when face-to-face teaching resumes.  All students who have visited the Mainland (not only limited to Hubei Province) in the past 14 days are required to complete an e-Travel Declaration Form and undertake self-quarantine for 14 days upon return to Hong Kong. The University will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep its students and staff informed of further decisions with regard to teaching and learning arrangements.   *****  End  *****