*************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman today announced that it will follow the government's decision to lower the influenza response level under the Framework of Government's Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic from "Emergency" to "Alert" Response Level with effect from May 24, barring any unforeseen factors arising from the meeting of the World Health Organization to be held in the week of May 17. Under the Alert Response Level, there will be different arrangement to be implemented in public hospitals and clinics. (Please refer to appendix I for details.)
It is also decided that the eight Designated Flu Clinics (DFCs) (list of DFCs is at appendix II) will set to be reverted to normal General out-patient Clinic services beginning on May 24, having considered the declining attendance of DFCs from the peak of nearly 2,000 per day in September 2009 to an average of 100 per day in April 2010. The telephone booking service for the clinics will resume accordingly.
Posters and notices at public hospitals will be updated to remind members of the public the scale down of response level and the corresponding revised arrangements. HA, in close liaison with the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), will stay vigilant to monitor the latest development of the influenza situation and the need to update the measures. HA will continue to keep the general public and professionals informed of the updated situation and relevant information.
Ends/Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:02
NNNN
