Dear Staff and Students,
We would like to share the following message from Department of Health about Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines.
Health and Safety Office
Dear Sir/Madam,
Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines
1. Comprehensive tightening of inbound control measures to prevent spreading of Omicron cases to community
The Government announced that in view of the rapidly worsening global epidemic situation due to the Omicron variant, a series of measures will be implemented to further guard against the importation of cases, including:
(1) tightening the flight suspension mechanism with immediate effect, apart from the existing suspension criteria, if four or more passengers are confirmed with COVID-19 upon arrival in Hong Kong from the same route within seven days, that route will be suspended for 14 days;
(2) shortening the lead time for specimen collection for pre-departure nucleic acid tests for persons boarding for flights to Hong Kong from 72 hours to 48 hours with effect from December 24; and
(3) requiring persons arriving at Hong Kong from Group A places with enhanced surveillance to undergo compulsory quarantine at a quarantine centre for the first four days of arrival at Hong Kong with effect from December 21. They have to undergo daily testing in the first seven days of arrival at Hong Kong, and to undergo testing on alternate days thereafter.
Additionally, in view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 epidemic situation, the Government imposes measures applicable to Group A places with enhanced surveillance on persons who have stayed in the United Kingdom (UK), from 0.00am on December 21. Peru will be specified as a Group A specified place from 0.00am on December 23 to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/20/P2021122000964.htm
2. Government tightens boarding and quarantine requirements for places with Omicron cases detected
In view of the latest global developments of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the places listed below will be specified as Group A specified places to tighten the boarding and quarantine requirements for relevant inbound travellers.
· Bahrain, Bermuda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gibraltar, Hungary, Oman and the Slovak Republic from 0.00am on December 17 For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/14/P2021121400590.htm
· Algeria, Ecuador, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Trinidad and Tobago from 0.00am on December 18 For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/15/P2021121500567.htm
· Kenya, Lithuania and Rwanda from 0.00am on December 19 For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/16/P2021121600523.htm
· Montenegro and Poland from 0.00am on December 20 For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/17/P2021121700580.htm
· Egypt, Morocco, New Zealand and Qatar from 0.00am on December 21 For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/18/P2021121800575.htm
· Palestine and Ukraine from 0.00am on December 22 For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/19/P2021121900688.htm
· Peru from 0.00am on December 23 For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/20/P2021122000964.htm
3. Government updates list of places of recognised vaccination records
The Government announced that it has concluded discussions with the Government of Nigeria to accept vaccination records issued by the place as recognised vaccination records for Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Group A specified places under the mechanism. The Government will also accept the vaccination records issued by Cape Verde and Lebanon for boarding flights for Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Group A specified places. The relevant arrangements will take effect at 0.00am on December 22 (Wednesday).
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/20/P2021122000756.htm
4. 42nd round of compulsory testing for staff members of RCHEs, RCHDs and nursing homes to commence shortly
The Government announced that the 42nd round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will commence shortly.
For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/10/P2021120900485.htm
More information on COVID-19 vaccines:
We would like to solicit your support to disseminate the information to your colleagues, work associates and/or business partners so that they could adopt proper preventive measures. Thank you very much for your support.
Department of Health
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敬啟者： 2019冠狀病毒病及疫苗的最新資訊
1. 政府全方位收緊「外防輸入」措施防範Omicron個案流入社區
政府公布，鑑於全球疫情因Omicron變異病毒株急速惡化，將採取一系列措施以進一步加強「外防輸入」，包括：
（1）由即日起收緊航班「熔斷機制」，除原有熔斷條件外，如一條航線七天內有四名或以上乘客抵港時確診，該航線須熔斷14天；
（2）由十二月二十四日起，所有地區來港人士登機來港前須進行的核酸檢測，採樣時限由72小時縮短至48小時；及
（3）由十二月二十一日起從「加強監測A組地區」抵港人士抵港首四天須在檢疫中心強制檢疫，抵港首七天須每天接受檢測，其後檢疫期間須隔天接受檢測。
此外，因應全球最新2019冠狀病毒病疫情發展，政府由十二月二十一日凌晨零時起對曾逗留英國的抵港人士實施「加強監測A組地區」措施，以及由十二月二十三日凌晨零時起指明秘魯為A組指明地區，以收緊相關抵港人士的登機及檢疫要求。
詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/20/P2021122000800.htm
2. 政府收緊發現Omicron個案地區的登機及檢疫要求
政府公布，按全球最新2019冠狀病毒病疫情發展 , 於以下日子指明相關地區為A組指明地區，收緊相關抵港人士的登機及檢疫要求
· 於十二月十七日凌晨零時起：巴林、百慕達、剛果民主共和國、直布羅陀、匈牙利、阿曼和斯洛伐克共和國 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/14/P2021121400589.htm
· 於十二月十八日凌晨零時起：阿爾及利亞、厄瓜多爾、盧森堡、斯洛文尼亞及特立尼達和多巴哥 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/15/P2021121500565.htm
· 於十二月十九日凌晨零時起：肯尼亞、立陶宛和盧旺達 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/16/P2021121600522.htm
· 於十二月二十日凌晨零時起：黑山和波蘭 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/17/P2021121700579.htm
· 於十二月二十一日凌晨零時起：埃及、摩洛哥、新西蘭和卡塔爾 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/18/P2021121800576.htm
· 於十二月二十二日凌晨零時起：巴勒斯坦和烏克蘭 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/19/P2021121900687.htm
· 於十二月二十三日凌晨零時起:秘魯 詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/20/P2021122000800.htm
3. 政府更新認可疫苗接種紀錄地區名單
政府已與尼日利亞政府完成商討，將認可該地區發出的疫苗接種紀錄，作為曾於A組指明地區逗留的香港居民的認可疫苗紀錄。政府亦將接受曾逗留A組指明地區的香港居民持佛得角或黎巴嫩所發出的疫苗接種紀錄登機來港。相關安排將由十二月二十二日（星期三）凌晨零時起實施。
詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/20/P2021122000755.htm
4. 第四十二輪安老院、殘疾人士院舍及護養院員工強制檢測即將展開
政府宣布，第四十二輪安老院、殘疾人士院舍及護養院員工強制檢測即將展開。
詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202112/17/P2021121500289.htm
更多新冠疫苗資訊：
希望你可以將有關資訊與你的同事、合作者及／或業務伙伴分享，讓他們都能採取合適的預防措施。非常感謝你的支持。
衞生署
