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新型冠狀病毒疫情下保護措施

「2019新型冠狀病毒」的疫情繼續擴大，到二零二零年二月二十日，本港已有65宗確診個案，其中2位患者死亡。為減低傳播風險，本港已實施停課、關閉公共設施，以及建議僱員在家工作等措施。社會上亦因對病毒的憂慮而引起了各種防疫用品的搶購潮，當中對口罩的需求量亦大幅攀升。

直至二零二零年二月二十日為止，「2019新型冠狀病毒」全球共有76,262個案，當中2,120患者死亡，死亡率為2.8%^[1]；而根據世界衛生組織的估算，每年全球有5,000,000人染上嚴重流感，因而死亡的個案則高至650,000宗^[2]。在疫症的陰霾下，市民對口罩的使用存著很多疑問，香港醫學會為了解答市民的疑問，特别召開了新聞發佈會，講解有關保護措施。

醫學會會長何仲平醫生表示，雖然世界衛生組織呼籲只有呼吸道感染病徵的人才須佩戴口罩，但香港人煙稠密，市民乘搭公共交通工具，或外出到人多的地方都應該帶上外科口罩，因為按目前的發病情況顯示，有確診患者並沒有任何外遊紀錄，很大機會屬於社區感染個案。同時，為減低病毒感染風險，市民亦應跟其他人保持適當社交距離，暫時擱置聚會和社交活動，盡量留在家中。

何醫生又指政府應繼續檢視關閉公共設施、停課及公務員在家工作的安排，在必要延長有關措施；他更鼓勵企業採用遙距通訊軟件，讓職員可在家辦公。

何醫生認為隔離檢疫對遏止疫情惡化十分重要，他希望政府能積極與各方溝通，解決目前選址時遇上的困難。

二零二零年二月二十日

編輯備忘：

香港醫學會成立於一九二零年，旨在聯繫政府、各公立醫療機構、大學及私人執業的醫務工作者，交流意見，團結一心。醫學會致力將最新的醫療資訊及醫務發展傳遞與會員，提倡會員遵行專業操守，進而服務社會，維護民康。

PRESS

RELEASE

20 February 2020

Your Protection Against COVID-19

The COVID-19 still sees its surge in Hong Kong, with 65 confirmed cases and 2 fatal cases as at 20.2.2020.  To slow down transmission, measures including closure of public facilities, suspension of classes, and home-office arrangement have been put in place.  People buying all sorts of protective gear, masks in particular, out of their worries for being infected.  There have been reports of masks shortage due to rising demand in Hong Kong as well as other countries.

As at 20 February 2020, the global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases exceeds 76,262, with 2,120 death cases, bringing the mortality rate to 2.8%^[3].  As for seasonal influenza, according to WHO, annual epidemics worldwide are estimated to result in about up to 5 million cases of severe illness which cause up to 650,000 respiratory deaths[4].  Under the COVID-19 outbreak, people worry of having no mask to wear during community transmission of the disease.  To help the public to understand how to use mask in a smart way together with sensible and proportionate preventive measures, the Hong Kong Medical Association (HKMA) called a press conference on 20 February 2020.

The HKMA President Dr HO Chung Ping, MH, JP, said “WHO advises a healthy people to wear mask only when he or she has symptoms such as cough or sneeze.  But Hong Kong is such a densely populated city, it would be better to advise people to wear mask when taking public transports or going to a busy place.  Judging from the current situation, there is a possibility for community transmission as many of the confirmed cases do not have overseas travel records.  It would be sensible to postpone gathering, avoid mass activity and stay home for social distancing is a key to reduce risk.”

Dr HO Chung Ping also pointed out “The measures of closing public facilities, class suspension, and civil servants working at home should be reviewed timely to see if extension is needed.  Nowadays there are so much good technology for distance meeting and online sharing, commercial corporates may consider to allow their employees to work at home.”

Dr HO Chung Ping opined that isolation is important to slow down transmission. “A genuine communication should be conducted between the Government and parties involved for a solution on site selection for isolation and quarantine.“

Notes to editors:

The Hong Kong Medical Association, founded in 1920, aims to bring together Hong Kong's government, institutional, university and private medical practitioners for an effective exchange of views and co-ordination of efforts.  The foremost objective of the Association is to safeguard and promote public health.  The Association speaks collectively for its members and aims to keep its members abreast of medical ethics, issues and advances around the world.  In fulfilling these goals, the association hopes to better serve the people of Hong Kong.

[1] https://edition.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-02-19-20-intl-hnk/index.html

[2] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)

[3] https://edition.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-02-19-20-intl-hnk/index.html

[4] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)