Coronavirus: guidelines to keep Hong Kong elderly care homes free of disease must be made mandatory, experts say

Government has tightened up the suggestions after single facility hit with 32 infections

While admitting the homes are under host of constraints, health protection measures cannot remain voluntary, the experts argue

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The Kong Tai Care for the Aged Centre Limited in Tsz Wan Shan. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 8:00am, 10 Jul 2020Updated: 7:22pm, 3 Aug 2020

Hong Kong government guidelines for care homes have been tightened after the city saw its first Covid-19 outbreak in a facility for the elderly, but medical experts are calling for the suggestions to be made mandatory to truly protect some of society’s most vulnerable.

The updates to the Centre for Health Protection’s guidelines on Wednesday came as the number of residents and staff infected at the Kong Tai Care for the Aged Centre Limited in Tsz Wan Shan rose to 32. At least one staff member confirmed to have Covid-19 worked at another facility run by the same operator on a higher floor in the same building.

Previously, the city had managed to keep the virus out of facilities for the elderly, a problem that has plagued other countries such as the United States.

The revised guidelines state such homes should “avoid as far as possible deploying staff to work in different residential care homes”, while people living there should avoid leaving “unless deemed necessary”.

Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, who advises the government on the pandemic, said care homes should be made to follow the guidelines.

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