The government's cancellation of the isolation order for those diagnosed with the new crown today (30th) also means that the community isolation facility has completed its historical mission.
According to the information, there are currently eight community isolation facilities in Hong Kong. Among them, the Penny’s Bay community isolation facility was first opened in April 2020, and the rest were only completed in March last year. Most of them have been in use for only two months.
In addition, the shelter hospital in Hetao District has never been used.
Liu Yulong, a government expert consultant, believes that the new crown pneumonia is now coming to an end, there will be no more major rebounds, and there will be no famous and frightening mutant virus strains. It is suggested that only one or two community isolation facilities should be reserved for isolation purposes.
Chen Kaixin, a constituency member of the Election Committee, believes that there is still a need to retain the Penny’s Bay Community Isolation Facility, which can also be used for isolation if a large unknown infectious disease breaks out in the future. As for other community isolation facilities, they are used as transitional housing or youth dormitories .
She also suggested that the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility could also be used as a respite center for residents, so as to facilitate the comprehensive renovation and addition of anti-epidemic facilities.
▼Seven backup community isolation facilities▼
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Patients diagnosed with the new crown no longer need to be quarantined from January 30, which also means that community isolation facilities are no longer useful.
The construction of community isolation facilities began as early as the early stage of the outbreak in 2020. Since the holiday camps used to isolate close contacts were full at that time, the Hong Kong government chose Penny’s Bay to build community isolation facilities, which were officially opened in April of the same year.
Six isolation facilities used in just two months
Until the Omicron virus strain hit Hong Kong early last year, the number of confirmed cases skyrocketed. Then Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced that the central government would assist in the construction of a number of community isolation and treatment facilities, including Tsing Yi, San Tin, Fanling, Yuen Long, Hung Shui Kiu and Hong Kong Six community isolation facilities on the artificial islands of the Hong Kong Port of the Zhuhai-Macao Bridge have been completed one after another, but they have been in use for only two months, and all operations have been suspended since May 12.
As for the Kai Tak Community Quarantine, it was only activated on August 19 last year, but it has been turned into a standby state so far.
▼Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility▼
Long-term backup of community isolation facilities in Yuen Long are still brightly lit at night
The reporter recently visited the current eight community isolation facilities in Hong Kong. Among them, only the Penny’s Bay community isolation facility is still in use. The remaining seven community isolation facilities are all quiet, like a dead city, but there are still employees in community isolation. At night, some spare community isolation facilities will be brightly lit. For example, the community isolation facilities in Yuen Long will still turn on the lights at night.
Although the community isolation facility in Yuen Long has been converted to standby, the lights are still brightly lit every night.
(Photo by Huang Xuzhi)
Security Bureau: More than 240,000 people have completed isolation in community isolation facilities
The Security Bureau replied that since February 2022, more than 240,000 people have completed isolation in multiple community isolation facilities, recovered and left.
Currently, only the Penny’s Bay Community Isolation Facility and a community isolation hotel are still in use to provide suitable isolation facilities for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 to reduce the risk of transmission.
The Security Bureau and its departments will deploy appropriate manpower to maintain the community isolation facilities in a standby state, so that they can be reactivated in a short time if necessary.
In addition to community isolation facilities, the Hong Kong government also established a central emergency hospital and shelter facilities in the Lok Ma Chau Loop area during the fifth wave of the epidemic. Handed over to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for operation and management.
The Hong Kong government stated earlier that relevant policy bureaus and departments and the Hospital Authority have conducted on-site inspections to make appropriate preparations for the arrangement of the facilities.
▼Hetao District Central Aid Hong Kong Emergency Hospital and shelter facilities▼
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Development Bureau: Construction contract fees are still being settled
During the fifth wave of the epidemic, the Hong Kong government built a number of community isolation facilities and shelter hospitals. Many people were worried that building too many would lead to a waste of resources. However, the Hong Kong government has not yet announced the expenditure on community isolation facilities.
In response to inquiries, the Development Bureau stated that the SAR government is responsible for the construction and construction costs of community isolation and treatment facilities. The settlement of project contract costs is in progress, and the information on project expenses is yet to be established and consolidated.
In addition to the cost, many people are also concerned about the future of relevant community isolation facilities and shelter hospitals after the new crown pneumonia epidemic. The Director of the Medical and Health Bureau, Lu Chongmao, said earlier that the Hong Kong government will actively consider using those that have been determined to be no longer needed to deal with the epidemic. It is feasible to gradually and orderly convert existing community isolation facilities to other non-anti-epidemic purposes, so as to make good use of precious land resources and promote the normalization of society.
Liu Yulong, government expert advisor and chairman of the Scientific Committee on Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.
(profile picture)
Liu Yulong advocates keeping only one or two community isolation facilities
Liu Yulong, a government expert consultant, believes that the new crown pneumonia is now coming to an end, there will be no major rebound, and there will be no famous mutated strains of the virus, so only one or two community isolation facilities need to be reserved for isolation purposes, and the rest of the community The isolation facilities will be converted to other non-anti-epidemic purposes, but it must comply with the policy of "people-oriented and solving the difficulties of the citizens".
Chen Kaixin, a member of the Election Committee, believes that it is still necessary to retain the Penny’s Bay community isolation facility, and it can also be used for isolation if a large unknown infectious disease breaks out in the future. “Like after SARS, Lei Yue Mun Resort will also reserve It will be used as an isolation facility for future outbreaks.” As for other community isolation facilities, they will be used as transitional housing or youth dormitories.
She also suggested that the Penny's Bay Community Isolation Facility could be used as a respite center for residents, so as to facilitate the comprehensive renovation and addition of anti-epidemic facilities.
Chen Kaixin.
(Photo by Ou Jiale)
It is difficult to transform a square cabin into an ordinary hospital, remote and difficult to support daily
As for the square cabin hospital, it is understood that the Hospital Authority is studying how to use the "hospital part" of the relevant facilities in the future. However, due to the remoteness of the relevant location, it is difficult and complicated to arrange medical staff to station and support daily operations. Therefore, there is no final decision yet.
Chen Kaixin also agrees that the square cabin hospital should be retained as a hospital. Since the relevant facilities have hospital equipment, it is suggested to refer to the traditional Chinese medicine hospital and invite non-profit organizations to be responsible for the operation and fill the current gap in the public medical system, such as dentistry.
She also pointed out that the relevant location is the border between China and Hong Kong, and a new China-Hong Kong medical cooperation model can be tried to operate, such as inviting mainland doctors and nurses to work in her hospital to provide medical services for citizens who often travel between China and Hong Kong.
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