Date: 20 May 2010; From the HA Corporate Communication Department
公立醫院今日調低應變級別
醫院管理局發言人於上星期（五月二十日星期四）提醒市民，醫管局會跟隨政府決定由今日（五月二十四日）開始將現時公立醫院的「緊急應變級別」調低至「戒備應變級別」。
「與此同時，醫管局八間指定流感診所（名單見附件）的求診人數漸見紓緩，故亦將由今日起恢復提供正常普通科門診服務，電話預約服務亦會在普通科門診服務開始前二十四小時恢復。」發言人說。
公立醫院及診所在戒備應變級別下，會實施下列措施：
公立醫院急症病房探訪時間會回復至每日不多於四小時及每次不超過兩名探訪人士；而療養及復康醫院的探訪時間為每日不超過六小時，每次不超過兩名探訪人士。
有呼吸道感染徵狀的訪客及病人在醫院及診所範圍內必須佩戴外科口罩。
所有員工、病人及訪客人士必須時刻保持手部衞生。
公立醫院化驗室網絡回復正常運作時間。
公立醫院急症室及普通科門診診所會繼續評估及分流有呼吸道感染徵狀的發燒病人。
「公立醫院亦會重新張貼戒備應變級別的海報及告示，提醒市民須知事項；以及指定流感診所將停止運作。」
「醫管局會繼續與衞生防護中心保持緊密聯繫，密切監察流感的最新發展，並因應情況更新相關措施。醫管局會隨時向公眾及醫護人員提供最新及重要訊息。」發言人補充說。
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Public hospitals stand down to Alert Level today
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesman last week (Thursday 20 May) reminded members of the public that it will follow the government’s decision to lower the influenza response level under the Framework of Government’s Preparedness Plan for Influenza Pandemic from "Emergency" to "Alert" Response Level with effect from today (24 May 2010).
“Concurrently, the eight Designated Flu Clinics of HA (List of clinics is appended) will also be reverted to normal general out-patient clinic service next Monday in view of declining service demand. The telephone booking arrangement for the clinics will resume on the preceding day accordingly,” the spokesman added.
Under the Alert Response Level, the following arrangements will be implemented in public hospitals and clinics:
Visiting hours will be returned to not more than four hours per day and not more than two visitors per visit for all acute wards; and not more than six hours per day and not more than two visitors for all convalescent hospitals.
Visitors and patients having respiratory symptoms are required to wear surgical mask in the patient areas of public hospitals and clinics.
All staff members, patients and visitors are required to practise hand hygiene at all times.
The HA laboratory network will return to normal operating hours.
The triage assessment for fever patients with respiratory symptoms will continue at Accident & Emergency Departments and General Outpatient Clinics.
“Posters and notices will be posted at public hospitals and clinics to remind members of the public the scale down of response level and the corresponding revised arrangements, and also the cessation of Designated Flu Clinic service.”
“In close collaboration with the Centre for Health Protection, we will stay vigilant to monitor the latest development of the influenza situation and the need to update the measures. We will continue to keep the general public and professionals informed of the updated situation and relevant information,” the spokesman said.