In light of the Coronavirus situation, we are writing to provide an update on the 21CLHK12 conference in March 2020.
Having reviewed all of the available information, we are committed to running the conference and we look forward to welcoming you to the HKCEC in March 2020.
Obviously it is a very fast moving situation with new news about the Coronovirus breaking on a daily basis. With all the updates, as well as the torrent of images/links and opinion on social media, it is sometimes hard to get balanced information about what is happening and to make informed decisions. We wanted to provide you with some information and context about the details on the ground here in Hong Kong. At the end of this there are several links from reputable sources that provide more accurate information about Hong Kong and the Coronavirus outbreak.
There are currently 12 confirmed cases in Hong Kong and all of the individuals involved are quarantined and so far, are all visitors who have come from mainland China. In other words, there has been no human to human transmission in Hong Kong. Those that have not recovered from the virus are either elderly or were already ill.
Hong Kong is uniquely prepared for this kind of outbreak having been through the SARS epidemic in 2003. People practice excellent personal hygiene and most people are actively wearing face masks, public and commercial premises are being disinfected regularly and hand sanitizers are widely available. The government and relevant departments have clear policies and procedures in place and have been moving swiftly to activate mitigation measures.
We believe that the situation is under control in Hong Kong and there is no significant public health issue here. Public venues including movie theaters, shopping malls, and public transportation are all running normally. The conference venue and conference hotel have been highly proactive in increasing their hygiene procedures. More information on that in the links below.
In summary, having reviewed all of the available information today, we are committed to running the conference and we look forward to welcoming you to the event in March 2020.
We will continue to provide updates as well as information on how to protect your health during flu season – good advice wherever you are in the world.
Protocols and Procedures from our Venues
- Protocols from Harbour View Hotel
- Protocols from OZO Wesley
- Protocols from HKCEC – can be accessed in English Here and Chinese Here
More Reading
- Article from Psychology Today – The Coronavirus is not the zombie apocalypse.
- FAQ from a prominent Health Clinic in Hong Kong.
Health Tips
- Perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes; after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs; or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretion after coughing or sneezing;
- Wash hands with liquid soap and water, and rub for at least 20 seconds. Then rinse with water and dry with a disposable paper towel or hand dryer. If hand washing facilities are not available, or when hands are not visibly soiled, hand hygiene with 70 to 80% alcohol-based hand rub is an effective alternative;
- Cover your mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissues into a lidded rubbish bin, then wash hands thoroughly; and
- When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly.