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Avian Flu Alert & Action Plan -
Serious Response Level
human swine flu
Activated when :
  • there are confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HAPI) outbreaks in the environment of or among poultry population in retail markets, wholesale markets or farms in Hong Kong due to a strain with known human health impact; or
  • there is/are confirmed human case(s) of avian influenza in Hong Kong without evidence of efficient human-to-human transmission.


For all staff and students

  • Follow the advice from the Department of Health to stay at home or special designated centres during the incubation period, if being identified as a Close Contact.
  • For hostel resident students who are required to stay at home, but are unable to do so, a single room could be arranged by the warden.
  • For staff who are Close Contacts and need to be certified to account for leave of absence could approach UHS for assistance.
  • Medical Screening at UHS for symptomless Close Contacts or social contacts or protected contacts is considered as NOT necessary.
  • Consult a doctor if you are sick especially with respiratory symptoms, even with or without fever.
  • Staff/student may approach UHS for issuance of health certificates if they plan to leave HK.

Committee on Health Promotion and Protection (CHPP)

  • Call urgent CHPP meeting if considered necessary by the Chairman.
  • Keep all University staff and students informed with updated information of Pandemic and Avian Flu outbreak situation in Hong Kong (and overseas) and the measures taken/to be taken on campus through mass mailing, Health Promotion and Protection website, publicity posters, and forums, etc. (in conjunction with Director of UHS and Information Co-ordinator).
  • Review class/examination arrangements.
  • Review University activity arrangements.
  • Tightening of the Mask Policy in line with prevailing Government and hospital policy for all staff, students, workmen, bus drivers and food handlers.

University Health Service (UHS)

  • All front-line staff at the clinic are required to wear surgical masks whilst in the clinic.
  • Free surgical mask for patients with respiratory symptoms.
  • Maintain & observe Infection Control Measures at UHS.
  • Adopt a triage system for patients with fever.
  • Operate a Fever Clinic by a team of designated physicians and nurses with personal protective equipment (PPE) for patients at higher risk of novel influenza.
  • Monitor any outbreaks of respiratory infection on campus.
  • Maintain a running record of patients seen with fever & influenza for assessing the trend & for any necessary follow up action.
  • Influenza vaccination for high risk group of staff and students.
  • Monitor & follow-up responses to Health Declaration Form from hostel or individual students with positive findings.
  • Temperature screening for selected patients of the Dental Unit.
  • Stock up an adequate number of infrared thermometers and earprobe thermometers.
  • Talks on Pandemic and Avian Flu outbreak Awareness & Preventive Measures to students and staff groups, when necessary.
  • Screen and monitor University staff sick leave records.
  • Step up infection control measures and internal operational guidelines at UHS medical and dental clinics.
  • Canteen inspection with Canteen Service Officer.

Colleges, Hostels, International House & Postgraduate Halls

  • College/I-House/Postgraduate Hall Coordinators to call meetings with College representatives to advise on special measures (e.g. mass temperature screening, briefing sessions, demand for masks, disinfection procedures) and relay to members the advice, comments and measures adopted by CHPP.
  • Maintenance of hostel environmental hygiene. Hostel management teams should follow their respective guidelines including intensified cleaning and disinfecting efforts in public areas of the hostel.
  • Maintain sufficient stock of thermometers, surgical masks and disinfectant in hostels.
  • Sale of surgical masks for hostel residents in need.
  • Arrange for designated areas in hostels for relevant information dissemination.
  • All visitors need to log in and out at student hostel receptions.
  • All visitors staying overnight must fill in a health declaration, printed at the back of the overnight guest ticket.
  • Warden to hold meetings with students to disseminate the relevant information.
  • Check whether any overseas programmes organized by Colleges are taking place or will take place in the affected areas.  Colleges should consider contingency measures as appropriate.
  • Temperature screening for mass activities on campus.
  • Intensify education of the residents through the notice boards and Resident Committee.
  • Completion of Health Declaration (prepared by UHS) by all hostel residents (and guests) returning from trips outside Hong Kong.
  • All residents and guests returning from affected areas are required to report to hostels/PGH counter to complete a ‘Health Declaration’ form upon arrival, wear a surgical mask, and record own body temperature for 7 consecutive days.

Business Office

  • Distribution and supply of surgical masks in accordance with the tightened Mask Policy.
  • Weekly canteen inspection with Canteen Service Officer, issue guidelines for canteen staff, consider seating arrangements for patrons.

University Safety and Environment Office (USEO)

  • Coordinate and review with EMO on environmental disinfection procedures and program on campus, in particular areas with bird droppings. 
  • Increase the stock of disinfectant to ten days' consumption.
  • To liaise with canteen management committees on inspection of environmental hygiene conditions in canteens, with particular attention on personal hygiene of their staff.
  • When mask policy is enforced by the University, liaise with Security Unit on implementation of the policy.
  • When mask policy is enforced by the University, arrange to set up mask waste bins at strategic locations and organize periodic collection and disposal services of used masks.
  • To liaise with EMO and Security Unit to monitor the number of bird carcasses found on campus.
  • To liaise with EMO and LASC to monitor the health conditions of birds on campus and other preventive measures for Avian Flu.
  • Liaise with LASC on further instruction and preventive measures from the authority in combating Avian Flu including removal of home avian species on campus.
  • Liaise with Security Unit to close off specific areas considered by CHPP to be of high risk in contracting Avian Flu.
  • Liaise with the Registry and EMO on environmental safety arrangements during examination period and methods to quarantine suspected articles.
  • To monitor the quality of surgical masks acquired by the University.
  • To coordinate with departments on N-95 user testing. 

Estates Management Office (EMO)

  • General environmental disinfection on campus.

          Specific Action for 'Avian Flu'

  • Advise staff to follow the guidelines on removing bird droppings.
  • To increase the frequency of inspection and cleaning, for bird droppings.
  • Set-up signage at strategic locations to advise against bird feeding.

Office of Registry Services

  • Participate in CHPP meetings.
  • Relay decisions and important messages of the CHPP to Faculty Secretaries and Head of Graduate School Office for information and necessary action.
  • When necessary, consider the need for any special arrangements for classes/ examinations, based on the advice of the CHPP/University.

Office of Student Affairs (OSA)

  • Participate in CHPP meetings and provide translation service for CHPP.
  • Disseminate the updates on activity management as advised by CHPP to student societies (in collaboration with the CUSU).
  • Disseminate updated information from CHPP to students via OSA's publication "University MarketPlace" and OSA's website.
  • Maintain a stock of surgical masks for distribution to participants of activities organized by OSA.
  • When necessary, consider the need for any special arrangements for activities organized by OSA, based on the advice of CHPP.
  • For students participating in OSA activities outside Hong Kong, organize pre-trip briefing on preventive measures against flu pandemic in collaboration with UHS and provide information about healthcare guidelines, local hospitals, emergency numbers, China embassies, etc.
  • Keep in close contact with outgoing students and overseas partner organizations.
  • Strengthen environmental hygiene in student amenities and OSA's offices (especially toilets) with EMO's assistance.
  • Based on the advice of the CHPP and the USEO, step up hygiene measures and implement special measures to reduce the risk of spreading virus in the University swimming pool.

Office of Academic Links (OAL)

For International Students

  • Provide preventative guidelines to international students as issued by CUHK through “practical information” booklet and distribute to the international students when they check-in at OAL and via email.
  • Include preventative guidelines in the E-newsletter to international students before their arrival.
  • UHS to deliver talk during the student orientation on staying healthy and illnesses to be aware of.
  • Provide updated news via email to international students on (a) laboratory-confirmed Pandemic and Avian Flu cases inside and outside of Hong Kong; or (b) Pandemic and Avian Flu Alert in Hong Kong and provide preventive guidelines as issued by CUHK.

Partner Universities

  • Ask partner universities for contingency plans should there be confirmed cases in partner universities/cities.
  • Provide updates on any new preventive measures on Pandemic and Avian Flu introduced by CHPP to partner universities and steps taken by CUHK and OAL.

For Outgoing Students

  • Remind outgoing students to cities with confirmed cases to be vigilant (pre-departure gatherings and emails).
  • Outgoing students leaving Hong Kong may visit UHS to obtain health certificates 48 hours prior to departure, if necessary.
  • Liaise with outgoing students in cities with confirmed cases on health and safety and any early departure arrangement made by host institutions.

Office

  • Display posters about general hygiene.
  • Inform visitors who plan to visit CUHK, on situation of Avian Flu in Hong Kong. It allows them to make their own judgment on visiting.

Other Units

Security Unit

  • Take temperature of all security staff on reporting to duty.
  • Distribute free surgical masks and protective gear to security staff for use whilst on duty.
  • All security staff are required to wear surgical masks and / or gloves whilst on duty.
  • Frequent disinfection of security offices and vehicle fleet.
  • Assist in conveying non-Avian Flu patients to UHS.
  • Relay decisions and important messages of CHPP to staff for information and necessary action.
  • Follow the advice from the Department of Health to stay at home or designated centres during the incubation period, if the staff is identified as a 'Close Contact'

Transport Unit

  • Use pressure sprayer to spray dilute bleach with water 1:99 daily.
  • Clean the interior of the bus compartment, such as windows, guard rails, grab rails, straps, stanchions, seats and floor daily.

Information Technology Services Centre (ITSC)

  • Stay alert to the announcement by CHPP.
  • Step up cleaning and disinfection for offices, Central Computer Room, user areas, meeting rooms, and seminar rooms.  Disinfect the console area of the Central Computer Room in every 8-hour shift by on-duty operators.
  • Remind on-duty operators to disinfect hands as often as possible.
  • Maintain sufficient stock of surgical masks and disinfectant.
  • Set up the "separated" workplace and make it ready for use so that the previously identified staff members who would work at the "separated" workplace could move in.
  • Advise users to bring along with their own surgical masks and wear the masks during ITSC training classes if necessary.
  • Close user areas and cancel all seminars for users if classes are suspended.
  • Step up the purchase and upgrade work of critical production systems which are tight in capacity, if not completed.

 

 
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