PREVENTION
GUIDELINES
On 23 June 2003, WHO has removed Hong Kong from its list of areas with recent local transmission of SARS. To prevent the re-emergence of SARS, we must continue to maintain our vigilance and take all the necessary precautionary measures as required.
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For
all persons who work or live on campus
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For
patients with respiratory tract infections
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For
workers in public places e.g. offices
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For
academic and teaching staff
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For
close contacts of confirmed SARS patients
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For
close contacts of suspected SARS patients
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For
persons who are social contacts of SARS patients
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For
department heads, unit heads, college and faculty offices on suspected SARS
staff/students
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Home
Infection Control for SARS Patients or Suspected SARS Patients on Discharge
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Important
Notices for Staff and Students during Summer Break
FOR
ALL PERSONS
WHO WORK OR LIVE ON CAMPUS
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Consult your
doctor promptly if you develop fever and/or respiratory symptoms.
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Build up good
body immunity by taking a proper diet, having regular exercise and adequate
rest, reducing stress and avoiding smoking.
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Maintain good
personal hygiene. Cover nose and
mouth when sneezing or coughing. If
you use a tissue paper, dispose the paper properly.
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Wear a
protective mask if you have respiratory infection symptoms.
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Keep hands
clean and wash hands properly and thoroughly. Use liquid soap for hand washing and disposable towel for
drying hands.
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Wash hands
with liquid soap when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions e.g. after
sneezing.
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For all
contact with patients with respiratory symptoms, careful hand hygiene is urged,
including hand-washing with liquid soap and water.
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Wash hands
after touching communal objects such as hand railing, lift buttons and door
knobs and handles. If hands are not
visibly soiled, alcohol-based hand-rubs may be used as an alternative to
hand-washing.
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Do not touch
your nose, eyes or mouth without washing your hands first.
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Do not share
towels. Do not share the same lunch
box or drink from the same cup with others. The Department of Health advises the public to adopt the good
practice of using serving spoons and chopsticks.
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Keep the
place where you live clean, and cleanse furniture properly.
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Maintain good
indoor ventilation by opening windows from time to time.
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Avoid
visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.
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Avoid
traveling to locations where SARS cases are reported, or inviting guests from
these places.
Updated
on 27 June 2003
FOR
PATIENTS WITH RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS
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If you have
respiratory symptoms with or without fever, you should consult a doctor, e.g.
attending UHS.
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These sick
persons should follow instructions given by their doctor including the use of
drugs as prescribed and taking adequate rest as appropriate.
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Adhere to
good personal hygiene practices.
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Put on masks
to reduce the chance of spread of infection to other persons around you.
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Persons
caring for you should also wear masks to reduce the chance of acquiring
infection through the airways.
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Based on
severity of symptoms, take sick leave as appropriate.
If you have only mild respiratory symptoms e.g. cough, but otherwise fit
for work, you should put on a surgical mask at work.
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Follow the ‘Guidelines
for All Persons’ and the Guidelines issued by the Department of
Health which can be found on the internet: www.info.gov.hk/dh.
GUIDELINES
FOR WORKERS IN PUBLIC PLACES e.g. OFFICES
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Follow the ‘Guidelines
for All Persons’.
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Wear a
protective mask if you have respiratory infection symptoms.
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Maintain good
personal hygiene. Cover nose and
mouth when sneezing or coughing.
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Wash hands
after sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose.
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Consult a
doctor promptly if you develop respiratory symptoms and/or fever.
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Maintain good
indoor ventilation by opening windows from time to time.
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Cleanse
air-conditioning systems and exhaust fans frequently to maintain their good
functioning.
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For central
air-conditioning systems, ensure frequent air exchanges, proper maintenance and
cleansing of the system.
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Ensure that
toilet flushing apparatus is functioning properly.
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Provide
toilet with liquid soap and disposable tissue towels or hand dryers.
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Cleanse and
disinfect the facilities (including furniture, lift cars, exhaust fans and
toilet facilities) regularly (at least once a day) by using diluted household
bleach (i.e. adding 1 part of household bleach to 99 parts of water), rinse with
water and then mop dry.
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If the
facilities are contaminated with vomits, wash/wipe with diluted domestic bleach
(mixing 1 part of bleach with 49 parts of water) immediately.
Updated
on 27 June 2003
FOR
ACADEMIC AND TEACHING STAFF
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Following the
general ‘Guidelines
for All Persons’ and the ‘Guidelines
for Workers in Public Places e.g. Offices’.
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Advise your
students to consult a doctor if they run a fever or have symptoms of respiratory
infection such as sneezing or coughing.
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Consult your
doctor promptly if you develop fever or respiratory symptoms.
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Maintain good
indoor ventilation by opening windows from time to time.
Updated
on 27 June 2003
FOR
CLOSE CONTACTS OF CONFIRMED SARS PATIENTS
According
to Department of Health, Close Contact means those persons having cared for,
having lived with, or having had direct contact with respiratory secretions and
body fluids of a patient with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
Starting
from April 11 the Quarantine and Prevention of Disease Ordinance now requires
people who have come into close contact with patients suffering from atypical
pneumonia to take the following steps:
1.
Report each day for check-up at a designated clinic for 10 days.
2.
If they have developed the symptoms of the disease, they will be admitted
to hospital for isolation and treatment.
3.
They should stay at home for the 10 days.
The
Department of Health will contact these persons directly to inform them about
the detailed arrangements. They
will also determine who exactly are considered as close contact within the
definition of close contact. The
Department will also stop them from going to work and schools.
As for those who
have contact with infected persons on social occasions (and not considered as
close contacts), the Department of Health will provide them with the relevant
information and a hotline number for consultation.
Room-mates
of students who are regarded as Close Contacts need not consider themselves as
close contacts. However, they
should also observe the ‘Guideline
for All Persons’. These
roommates are advised not to share the same room with students of close contact
for at least 10 days counting from the day of the last ‘contact’ or from the
date of admission to hospital of the SARS patient.
UHS
advises that all persons who consider they have come into close contact with
confirmed patients with SARS should observe the set of ‘Guideline
for All Persons’. In
particular, they should observe the following points:
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Wear a
protective mask all the time
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For the next
10 days, observe to see if you develop any of the symptoms of SARS: fever,
muscle pain and coughing.
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Report to UHS
or the Department of Health or go to the hospital if the above symptoms develop.
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Strictly
adhere to the instructions to be provided by the Department of Health when they
have approached you and confirmed your status as a close contact.
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Preferably
you should stay at home out of the campus.
This is an important preventive measure preventing spreading of SARS
further to other people if you develop the disease yourself later.
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If you have
to stay on campus, make sure that you stay in your room in your hostel as far as
possible. When the Department of
Health officials contact you, they will give you further instructions.
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Wear a
surgical mask at all times as far as possible, unless when e.g. you are eating,
showering, sleeping.
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Take care in
handling your masks. Avoid touching
the inside or outside of your masks with your hands.
Deposit used masks in paper or plastic bags.
Dispose old and used masks properly into plastic bags (and into bins
marked with BioSafe Bags if you are on campus).
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Change for
new masks daily. If you are staying
at home, buy surgical masks from stores yourself for your and your family
members’ use. If you have real
difficulties or if you have to continue to stay at hostels, contact the hostel
management for a supply of surgical masks for your special need when stock is
available.
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Strictly
adhere to the guidelines for hand washing.
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Strictly
adhere to the guidelines for touching communal objects such as door
knobs/handles, shower heads, water taps, toilets, eating utensils.
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Disinfections.
Cleanse your room thoroughly daily.
Hostel management will also carry out these tasks daily.
Use diluted household bleach (i.e. adding 1 part of household bleach to
99 parts of water), rinse with water and then mop dry.
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Consult a
doctor if you feel unwell especially when you feel you have a fever.
The Department of Health may advise you later for daily medical
assessment at their designated clinic.
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Above all,
stay calm and do not panic. With
the advance in knowledge of the SARS virus, the majority of patients can be
treated and recovered.
FOR CLOSE CONTACTS OF SUSPECTED SARS PATIENTS
The
definition for Close Contacts given in the guideline above also applies.
They are those persons who have cared for, lived with, or having had
direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a patient
suspected of SARS infection.
The
Government announced on 25 April that household (or close) contacts of suspected
SARS patients will have to undergo home confinement for up to 10 days.
This is similar to the requirement for household contacts of confirmed
SARS patients.
Suspected
SARS persons are those patients who have been admitted to hospitals for
observation and investigation of SARS infection.
UHS on being notified of the admission and confirmation of the
patient’s conditions will publish the information on the SARS website under
“Clinical Updates’.
UHS
will give advice to Departments, Faculties, Units, Offices or hostels on the
follow up action required: including disinfect ion processes; tracing records of
the recent activities and contacts of the admitted patient; movement, activity
and accommodation for the patients’ recent close contacts.
UHS
will maintain communication with the patient and hospital to keep track of the
patients conditions.
Even
when the patient is finally discharged and is NOT confirmed as having SARS
infection, he or she will still be required to stay away on sick leave for 10
days to 14 days and to attend medical follow up after discharge.
(See below on Guidelines
for Suspected SARS Staff/Students and Guidelines
for Discharged Patients).
In
line with the Government action, and as a means to interrupt any possible
person-to-person transmission, close contacts for Suspected SARS patients should
also stay at home, or stay at a separate room in hostels, and their movement
restricted for 10 days from the date of their last contact.
Special leave for staff can be obtained at UHS.
They should observe as well the Guidelines provided above for Close
Contacts of Confirmed SARS patients.
Please
advise all persons who are contacts of suspected (or confirmed) SARS patients to
report to UHS for medical attention if they have the following symptoms:
Fever; Chills; Rigor; Muscle Pain;
Cough; Headache; Dizziness; Sore Throat;
Running nose; Nausea; Vomiting; Diarrhea; etc.
They
should also follow the Guidelines on this website for personal protection and
environmental hygiene.
The
Government also advises that the persons (and their families) of suspected SARS
patients will also be visited by the health teams from the Department of Health
during the period of confinement. Strict
compliance with their advice is expected.
FOR
PERSONS WHO ARE SOCIAL CONTACTS OF SARS PATIENTS
Social
contacts are those persons who have only had casual contact with a SARS patient,
i.e. those persons who have not been involved in the care of, or lived together
with, or had direct contact with respiratory secretions and body fluids of a
SARS patient. The current knowledge
of SARS is that the incubation period is 10 days.
Generally, students living in the same hostel (not the same room), attend
the same class, or staff working in the same office or laboratory may be
considered as social contacts.
If
you are a social contact of a SARS patient, and do not have any symptoms of the
disease, please note the following advice.
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Wear a mask
for protecting yourself and others.
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Maintain good
personal hygiene:
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Cover your
nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing.
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Do not spit
into a public bin or an open area. Use
a tissue paper to hold your spit, then dispose of the soiled tissue paper
properly into a covered bin.
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Wash hands
immediately if they are soiled with respiratory secretions or after using the
toilet.
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Use liquid
soap for hand washing.
–
Pay
meticulous attention to hand washing, especially before and after touching your
eyes, nose, mouth, and after touching respiratory secretion e.g. after sneezing,
coughing, cleaning nose etc. Wipe
hands dry with paper towel.
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Use serving
spoons and serving chopsticks at meal times.
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Wash hair and
shower daily.
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Encourage all
family members to take the above personal hygiene measures.
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Keep your
environment clean and hygienic. Clean
all surfaces (desk, chair, personal computer, telephone, floor, toilet, hand
washing basin, door knobs, light switches, etc) daily with a solution of diluted
household bleach prepared by mixing 1 part bleach with 99 parts of water, or 70%
alcohol for metallic surfaces, rinse with water and then wipe dry.
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Maintain good
indoor ventilation. If your
environment is air-conditioned, ensure frequent air exchange with proper
maintenance and cleansing of the air-conditioning system.
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Avoid
visiting crowded places with poor ventilation.
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Avoid
traveling to places where there are reports of SARS infection.
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If you start
to feel unwell, such as fever, chills, coughing, shortness of breath, headache,
generalized muscle ache and weakness, please promptly consult your doctor, or
book an appointment for consultation at UHS where there is a designated clinic
for patients with recent history of contacts.
Updated
on 27 June 2003
FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS, UNIT HEADS, COLLEGE AND FACULTY OFFICES
ON SUSPECTED SARS STAFF/STUDENTS
1.
Notification of Suspected SARS Case:
All suspects of SARS should be reported to the UHS through Department
Heads, Unit Heads, College Offices, Faculty Offices, hostel wardens (or through
the SARS Working Group Coordinators of the faculties, colleges) as soon as
possible. UHS functions as the CUHK
SARS information coordinator. Relevant
detailed information about the suspect should be given to Mrs. Pauline Kan of
UHS by phone on 26096436 or by e-mail pauline-kan@cuhk.edu.hk.
2.
If the suspect is still within the university campus, immediate medical
check up can be arranged by UHS (or outside clinics/hospitals if the suspect is
not present in the campus). Relevant actions would be taken that could involve
referral to hospitals A& E Departments for further confirmation and
treatment. For for those unlikely to be SARS, UHS will also follow up on
the progress accordingly.
3.
At the same time, relevant Departments, Units, Colleges, Faculties or
hostels will notify the Safety and Environment Office and/or EMO to commence
disinfection of the hostel (rooms, common areas, pantries, and toilets etc.) or
office or other work place as appropriate that the patients had lived in or
worked. (Please refer to 'Guidelines
on Cleaning and Disinfection' on the SARS webpage)
4.
For those admitted into hospitals, Mrs. Kan of UHS will liaise regularly
with the hospital, Department of Health and the suspect to update the latest
condition and status of confirmation of the diagnosis.
5.
Relevant Departments, Units, Colleges or Faculties, hostels will prepare
a list of close contacts* with the patient within the last 10 days, if possible.
A copy of the list should be sent to Mrs. Pauline Kan who will advise the
Department of Health once the case is confirmed as a SARS case.
6.
UHS will then notify relevant Departments Heads, Unit Heads, Colleges,
Faculty Offices, hostel wardens and the Chairman of the Campus SARS Task Force
the progress of the suspected cases, once detail information is obtained.
7.
If the suspected person is a student living in a hostel with a room-mate,
the hostel should arrange the room-mate to either go home or to live away from
others during the incubation period of 10 days, until further information is
obtained from UHS. Advice should be given to the room-mate on personal hygiene
and personal protection as detailed on other parts of this webpage.
8.
Relevant Departments, Units, Colleges or Faculties, hostels will advise
those who are considered as close contact to follow the 'Guidelines
for Close Contacts' given on the SARS webpage.
9.
Advice should be given to them to seek medical attention at UHS
immediately if and when any of them feels unwell particularly with a fever and
symptoms of respiratory infection.
10.
Before any staff or student who are close contacts come to UHS for
medical consultation, he/she should ring UHS on 26096439.
UHS staff will advice on the arrangements for the medical check-up.
11.
Please also refer to the contents of University General Circulars on 'Close
contacts with SARS patients - Sick leave and medical check-up arrangements'
and 'Pregnant Appointees' for university staff shown under University
Administrative Circulars on the webpage.
*
Close contacts are those persons who have lived with, cared for a SARS
patient or those who have had come into contact with the respiratory secretions
and body fluids of a person confirmed or suspected as having SARS in the last 10
days. For example: a student sharing the same room in hostels with a SARS
patient.
FOR DISCHARGED PATIENTS
A.
PATIENTS WHO WERE INITIALLY
ADMITTED FOR OBSERVATION AND WAS LATER DIAGNOSED AS NOT HAVING SARS ON DISCHARGE
(i.e. Patients who were initially admitted to hospital for suspected SARS
infection. The hospital later confirmed that they were not suffering from SARS
and discharged them home.)
1.
UHS will obtain the decision for discharge from either the hospital or
the Department of Health or from the patients themselves. The information should
include advice from the hospital such as sick leave; medication; and follow up
appointments.
2.
UHS and the discharged patients should inform the relevant Department
Heads, Unit Heads, College and Faculty Offices of the hospital diagnosis and
sick leave and follow up arrangement.
3.
UHS will advise the relevant Department Heads, Unit Heads, College and
Faculty Offices that close contacts of the patient should continue to have
special leave and home stay for a total period of 10 days commencing from the
last day of contact with the patient. They may report to UHS's special SARS
clinic for medical check and sick/special leave certification, if not already
given. This arrangement is a preventive measure to better safeguard the health
of the close contacts and other persons.
4.
Discharged patients should also be allowed a period of at least 10 days
of sick leave from the date of hospital discharge. If there is a need, they
should also report to UHS for the leave certification and further follow-up.
B.
PATIENTS WITH CONFIRMED SARS
(i.e. Patients confirmed at hospital as having suffered SARS infection
and discharged home after recovering from the disease.)
1.
Hospital Authority currently adopts the practice to cohort convalescence
cases in hospital/convalescence facilities/home for up to 21 days from onset of
the illness, or at least 7 days since convalescence, whichever is longer.
2.
The hospital will advise patients, upon discharge, to self-quarantine and
take enteric precaution at home for up to 10-14 days. During this period they
should stay indoors and keep contact with others to a minimum and continue with
other personal precautionary measures. They will also be required to continue
with weekly follow up until the chest x-ray and patient's health return to
normal.
3.
For the above purpose, sick leave certificate would be issued by hospital
for discharged patients.
4.
Point 3 of the section above for close contacts should apply.
Sick/special leave could be granted by UHS after confirmation for up to
10 days (counting from the date of last contact).
The
above arrangement may be modified when necessary with new development of the
clinical information on SARS.
FOR
ORGANIZING ACTIVITIES
·
Follow the Precautionary
Measures to Prevent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
·
Shorten the
duration of the activity as far as possible; do not keep a huge crowd of
participants for a long period of time.
·
Maintain good
indoor ventilation and allow plenty of fresh air into the indoor environment.
·
Carefully
select the venue to allow plenty of space for the activity.
·
Control the
number of participants of the activity, so as to avoid a crowed environment or
close body contact among the participants.
·
Should
catering have to be arranged, take appropriate precautions, e.g. do not share
food or drinks, do not share towels, adopt the practice of serving spoons and
chopsticks, food and drinks must be stored and covered properly.
·
Remind every
participant NOT to join the activity if he/she is not feeling well or having
fever or respiratory symptoms.
Updated
on 27 June 2003
FOR
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
·
Wear a face
mask if having respiratory infection symptoms.
·
To limit
their activities and movement within the confines of the work site.
·
To follow the
instruction as to the place where they have their meals.
·
To adopt
personal hygiene measures including use of toilets and refrain from spitting.
·
CU
construction site supervisors have the authority to refuse entry and
continuation of work of any construction worker if in his or her opinion that
the construction worker is sick.
·
Follow the
general ‘Guidelines
for All Persons’ and the ‘Guidelines
for Workers in Public Places e.g. Offices’.
Updated on 27 June 2003
HOME INFECTION CONTROL FOR SARS PATIENTS OR
SUSPECTED SARS PATIENTS ON DISCHARGE
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Infection
control measures should be continued for 7 days after resolution of symptoms
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Cover mouth
and nose with a facial tissue when coughing or sneezing
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Wear a
surgical mask in all public, indoor and communal areas in hostels
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Pay
meticulous attention to handwashing, particularly after contact with nose, mouth
and respiratory secretions e.g. after sneezing, wiping nose
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Reinforce
careful handwashing practices for all family members
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Use liquid
soap rather than bar soap for handwashing
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Carefully
dispose of materials used to wipe respiratory secretions e.g. paper handkerchief
– use disposable paper handkerchiefs, not cotton type
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Avoid close
contact with family members (e.g. mucosal contact)
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Avoid sharing
food and utensils
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Maintain good
personal hygiene, shower and change clothes daily
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Open windows
to increase natural ventilation
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Environmental
surfaces should be cleaned daily with household bleach diluted in water (1:99)
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Seek
consultation at University Health Centre or hospital if you develop symptoms and
signs compatible with SARS (high fever, chills/rigors, myalgia)
It
has become a necessity for all persons to observe personal hygiene measures to
protect themselves and others. As
long as SARS continues to be a serious threat to us, no one could afford to
relax. The guidelines for all to
follow have been proven to be effective. Residents
and workers are required to wear a face mask if they have respiratory infection
symptoms.
The
following measures are recommended for hostels:
1.
Require all residents and workers to adopt practices as provided under
the guidelines for all persons in the CUHK Campus SARS Task Force website or
official websites.
2.
Maintain cleanliness and disinfection regularly also as provided under
the guidelines for this purpose in the Task Force Website.
3.
Advise all residents and workers to seek early medical attention if they
run a fever.
4.
Taking the temperature for all who may have mild symptoms or appear to be
sick is appropriate. Taking
temperature is a simple procedure and can be done by the sick person or with the
help of others. However, you may
also refer to the power point presentation of the correct procedures.
Arrange to have a supply of thermometers, surgical gloves and
accessories.
5.
If the person has a low fever or mild symptoms, ask him or her to come to
UHS for medical attention by ringing x.6439 or x.6422 beforehand.
6.
Consultation with a doctor or at UHS or at a hospital should be more
urgent if any of them has a fever of >38 degree C and respiratory symptoms.
7.
If the person has a high fever or is very sick, keep him or her calm.
Contact UHS, during office hours at x.6439 or x.6422.
UHS will direct the patient to be seen by its physician at the special
clinic. After office hours, please consider calling an ambulance.
8.
After the medical consultation (at UHS, or at Hospital A/E Department),
if the patient is treated and discharged, advise him or her to take the
medication given and keep the follow up appointments, if any.
9.
If the patient is admitted to hospital, UHS will have to be informed as
soon as possible (Mrs. Pauline Kan at x6436).
Mrs. Kan will keep track of the condition of the patient with the
hospital, and any updated information will be fed back to the respective College
and hostel at least once daily.
10. Disinfection and arrangement for separate
accommodation for the roommate will follow as given under the guidelines of the
Task Force, as soon as the patient is admitted under observation for possible
SARS infection.
11. On discharge of the patient, if the diagnosis
remains that he or she is NOT a patient of SARS, the roommate should still need
to stay at home for 10 days counting the date of the last contact with the
patient. If the diagnosis of SARS
has been confirmed, follow the advice from the hospital for any special
arrangement. The Task Force has
also developed a set of guidelines for this category of persons.
12. If a student has other medical problem (e.g.
allergic rhinitis) making it difficult for them to wear the surgical mask, ask
them to seek medical advice.
Updated on 27 June 2003