Following is a question by the Hon Yang Wing-kit and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (November 16):

Question:

     The Coronavirus Disease 2019 epidemic has caused the emergence of confirmed cases in many residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (collectively referred to as RCHs). In response, the Government has put in place a number of measures, including the launch of a 12-month Time-limited Programme on Enhancing Infection Control and Ventilation of RCHs (the Programme) in December 2020 and arrangements for enhancing virus testing of RCH staff, so as to assist RCHs in enhancing their epidemic prevention. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the number and percentage of those RCHs participating in the Programme; whether it knows the reasons for some RCHs not participating in the Programme; whether it has assessed the effectiveness of the Programme; if so, of the details; whether it will regularise the Programme and regularly deploy staff to conduct assessments on ventilation in RCHs; if it will not, of the reasons for that;

(2) whether it will require RCH staff to increase the frequency of conducting rapid antigen tests from currently once a day before work to three times a day (i.e. before work, at noon and before leaving work) for identification of infected persons as early as possible; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) whether it will require RCH staff to wear KN95 or N95-type masks which offer higher levels of protection, so as to reduce virus transmission; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) whether it will allocate additional resources to RCHs for them to add air purifiers in each room; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and

(5) whether it knows the number of RCHs which have applied technology to combat the epidemic (including the use of robots for food delivery, and the installation of automatic body temperature sensors in each room) and the situations of such efforts; if not, whether it will conduct a relevant survey and subsidise RCHs in applying technology to combat the epidemic?

Reply:

President,

     My reply to the question raised by the Member is as follows:

(1) The Government launched the 12-month Time-limited Programme on Enhancing Infection Control and Ventilation of Residential Care Homes (RCHs) (Enhancement Programme) in December 2020, and a total of 1 082 (around 96 per cent) RCHs participated. Subsequently, these RCHs have been gradually following up on the improvement recommendations put forward by professionals upon completion of the ventilation assessments in RCHs, such as procurement of additional high-efficiency air purifiers.

     Following the completion of the Enhancement Programme in end-2021, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) had, in co-ordination with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) and the Buildings Department, visited over 700 private RCHs (including contract RCHs operated by private organisations) and self-financing RCHs in the territory from April to June 2022 to inspect on-site again the ventilation of RCHs and put forward further ventilation improvement recommendations based on each RCH's individual circumstances. In addition, around 400 subvented and contract RCHs had also completed ventilation assessments conducted by professionals and are following up on the improvement recommendations. The EMSD will continue to offer technical advice and support to these RCHs taking into account their individual needs.

     Besides, the SWD and the Department of Health (DH) have, since June 2022, arranged nurses to conduct four additional on-site assessment visits to all private RCHs (including contract RCHs operated by private organisations) and self-financing RCHs over a 12-month period to ensure RCHs' compliance with COVID-19 related infection control measures, and provide infection control advice and training to RCH staff. In parallel, the SWD has provided special subsidy to non-governmental organisations operating subvented or contract RCHs to arrange the same on-site infection control assessments for their RCHs. The SWD will continue to urge all RCHs to follow up the improvement recommendations on ventilation and infection control as appropriate.

(2) To strengthen protection for RCH residents and staff, the SWD has, in accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued by the Health Bureau under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), enhanced the compulsory testing arrangements for RCH staff to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid (PCR) tests from August 31, 2022. All RCH staff, irrespective of their vaccination status, must undergo a PCR test on the day of entry or on any of the two days before entry into RCHs to perform duties, and continue to conduct rapid antigen test before work every day.

     The Government will continue to monitor the development of the epidemic situation and suitably consult the health authorities with a view to making appropriate testing arrangements for RCH staff.

(3) With reference to the guidelines issued by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, all RCH staff should wear well-fitted surgical masks while at work. The level of protection provided by a well-fitted surgical mask is comparable to wearing a KN95 or a KF94 mask. RCHs should, based on risk assessment, arrange for their staff to wear suitable masks. For instance, staff should wear respirators (such as N95 masks) when providing care to residents who are confirmed/suspected cases of COVID-19.

     Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in early 2020, the SWD has been providing surgical masks to RCH staff on a monthly basis. To assist RCHs in coping with the fifth wave of the epidemic, the SWD has since February 2022 distributed additional surgical masks and KN95 masks to staff of residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities.

(4) Subvented RCHs can make use of their lump sum grant subvention surplus or apply for the Lotteries Fund to carry out relevant improvement works where necessary. In addition, ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the SWD has been collaborating with the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to provide several rounds of subsidy to RCHs to acquire ventilation equipment, in accordance with recommendations put forward by professionals upon ventilation assessments in RCHs. These included provision of over 14 000 sets of specified high-efficiency air purifiers and filters, 700 anti-epidemic mobile cabins and around 5 000 exhaust fans.

(5) According to the SWD's observation at inspections during the epidemic, quite some RCHs have made use of technology products (such as automatic body temperature detectors) to assist in anti-epidemic efforts. Eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units can apply for the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care (I&T Fund) to procure anti-epidemic technology products. Since September 2022, the eligibility of the I&T Fund has been extended from subvented service units to all RCHs (including private and self-financing RCHs). Around 500 additional RCHs can now procure or rent technology products with the I&T Fund.

     The I&T Fund has now subsidised around 560 elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure or rent a total of over 1 900 anti-epidemic technology products. These include video communication and distance-training devices, interactive training systems (such as virtual reality rehabilitation training systems), wireless health monitoring equipment (such as smart Bluetooth pulse oximeters) and disinfection robots (such as UV-C disinfection robots and Temi robots).

Ends/Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Issued at HKT 11:05

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