Hospitals stay on H1N1 alert, despite decline of virus spread

Hospitals in Hong Kong will remain vigilant in monitoring outbreaks of the H1N1 flu virus.

This announcement comes from the Hospital Authority (HA) just days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that the virus was entering the post-pandemic stage.

The HA has stated that it will liaise closely with the Centre for Health Protection and will continue to keep the general public and health professionals informed as the situation changes.

Public hospitals have been advised to follow these guidelines:

• Limit visiting hours to a maximum of four hours per day
• Urge all visitors and patients with respiratory symptoms to wear surgical masks when in the patient areas of public hospitals and clinics
• Remind all hospital staff, patients and visitors to always practice good hand hygiene
• Assess all patients presenting with a fever and respiratory symptoms at accident and emergency departments and general outpatient clinics.