11th February 2020 – (Hong Kong) Secretary for Transport and Housing of Hong Kong, Frank Chan and Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health held a media conference today to address the two cases of novel coronavirus infection in Hong Mei House, Cheung Hong Estate in Tsing Yi. Experts found that the pipe of one of the patients’ 07 units was not sealed and the virus had a chance to return to the toilet through the pipe (U-traps). Residents were evacuated from all 07 units subsequently.

Frank Chan said this morning that a preliminary investigation revealed that the pipe in unit A307 in which the second patient lived may have been modified. The government will send another staff to the scene to conduct an in-depth investigation today. He pointed out that the early morning evacuation measures were only for safety reasons, and emphasized that this situation is different from the 2003 SARS Amoy Gardens incident, because the waste pipe of Cheung Hong Estate was installed indoors whereas the waste pipe at Amoy Gardens was installed outdoors. The virus has the opportunity to spread through wind, damaged pipes and other reasons. He also pointed out that all public housing estates have been disinfected regularly in particular at the lift area and public area.

The Secretary for Food and Health, Sophia Chan, said that there are 34 floors in Hong Mei House. In addition to the two confirmed cases, residents of twenty three 07 units have been sent to quarantine centres. 4 residents from 3 units had Wuhan pneumonia symptoms and they were sent to the hospital. She pointed out that they still could not contact the tenants of 9 other units. The CHP would continue to follow up today to find out whether the tenants are at home and they will arrange them to be sent to quarantine centre.

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, microbiologist from Hong Kong University expressed in a radio interview that a preliminary inspection of most units in Hong Mei House revealed that most pipes in the units were not modified. Unit A1307 where the infected patient stayed may have passed the virus in his faeces to the other female patient via the modified pipe on a lower floor at Unit A307. At this stage, the possibility of any transmission of the virus, including droplets, contact transmission or airborne infection, cannot be ruled out.



Meanwhile, The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) is today proactively following up on two cases of novel coronavirus infection in Hong Mei House, Cheung Hong Estate in Tsing Yi, and is immediately carrying out active case finding at the 07 units of Hong Mei House to identify if there are undiagnosed cases so as to stop the potential risk of further spread of the virus.

As the 62-year-old female patient of the 42nd case announced yesterday and the 75-year-old male patient of the 12th case confirmed on 30th January both reside at the 07 unit on different floors in Hong Mei House, Cheung Hong Estate, the CHP has proactively followed up to investigate whether the infections of the two cases are related.

The CHP has immediately co-ordinated with relevant government departments and organisations to formulate and execute corresponding measures last night. A multi-disciplinary response team has also been activated to investigate and examine if environmental factors were involved in the infection of the two cases.

Taking into the opinions from experts, the CHP decided to carry out prudent measures on infection control. Personnel from the CHP have immediately inspected Hong Mei House, Cheung Hong Estate last night and conducted active case finding on residents living at the 07 units of the whole block covering 30 odd floors. Symptomatic residents will be sent to the hospital for isolation while asymptomatic residents will be issued quarantine orders and be transferred to quarantine centre.

The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Housing Department will conduct thorough cleaning and disinfection for the building. The DH will also provide residents with guidelines on professional cleaning and disinfection, such as to maintain drainage pipes properly and regularly pour about half a liter of water into each drain outlet (U-traps) to ensure environmental hygiene, and after using the toilet, to put the toilet lid down before flushing to avoid spreading germs.