The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government decided
Thursday to implement the confinement of household contacts with
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) to control the spread of
the disease.
Yeoh Eng-kiong, secretary for health, welfare and food, said at a
press conference that all household contacts of patients confirmed
with SARS will be confined within a period of 10 days.
"The purpose is to facilitate early detection of all household
contacts of SARS patients to reduce the risk of further spread of
SARS into the community," he said.
Relevant data indicate that the rate of household contacts of
acquiring infection is estimated below 5 percent, under the
circumstance that no precaution is taken, according to Yeoh, adding
that to the public the risk is not very high.
Under the confinement measure, the government will give choices of
those households whether to remain at home or to move to holiday
camps.
The government will provide medical assistance to those households
in the confinement period.
Yeoh said the government will disclose the names of the buildings
with the confirmed cases of SARS patients, and he also appealed the
community not to discriminate those infected individuals.
Yeoh also called for the community support in combating the SARS
and said it is the primary work of the government to cooperate with
the community.
Following the announcement of the confinement measure, a spokesman
for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced that it will
provide support to people who are confined to their home.
During the period when people are confined at home, the SWD is
ready to provide them with the necessary support in the provision
and delivery of meals, essential daily necessities and emotional
support hotline service.
"Financial assistance under the 'Emergency Financial Assistance
Scheme for Prevention of the Spreading of Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome' will also be extended to these affected persons," the
spokesman said.
As
of April 9, 264 applications at a total grant of HK$226,170
(US$29,000) have been approved.
(Xinhua News Agency April 11, 2003)