The purpose of this Action Plan is to ensure the following:
- All suspected SARS cases are isolated promptly.
- All close contacts of SARS cases are quarantined as early as possible.
- All possible measures are taken to minimise the chance of spread to the University and the community at large.
- Accurate information is disseminated to the University members.
DEFINITION OF A 'CASE'
1. A fever case: A person who develops fever of (>37.5 degree C) on 3 separate oral recordings.
2. A suspected case: A case who have had fever of 38 degree or more than 1 day AND CXR evidence of pneumonia. The case is also admitted into the hospital and classified by Department of Health or the Hospital Authority as a suspected case.
3. A confirmed case: A case confirmed by Department of Health as a confirmed case.
DEFINITION OF CLOSE CONTACT
Those who have been living with or have cared for or have been in direct contact with the respiratory secretions and/or body fluids of a person with suspected SARS reported by Department of Health in the last 10 days.
To protect the University community from getting infected within the University, we adopt an extra cautious approach in applying this principle to University staff or students:
Close contacts in a work/study situation includes the following:
- those who have been working in a small confined area with a suspected or confirmed case.
- those who have had prolonged hours (of 3 hours or more) of face to face interaction at close distance (of less than 3 feet) with the suspected or confirmed case.
- those who have been cleaning the working bench/desk of a suspected or confirmed case
without wearing masks or gloves.
Social contacts are those who have engaged in relatively brief hours of social contact with a suspected or confirmed case.
FEVER CASE
(Please follow these actions until the fever subsides continuously for 24 hours.)
Individual:
1. Consult a doctor who is nearest to your place of stay.
2. If there has been sudden fever of 38 degree C or more, consult a doctor promptly.
3. If there has been sudden fever of 38 degree C and history of possible contact with a suspected or confirmed SARS patient, go to the Accident & Emergency Department of HA hospitals or one of the SARS screening Centres of the Department of Health. On-site chest X ray is probably required. Use a designated transportation for suspected SARS cases, if available.
4. For those without evidence of SARS infection:
- Sick leave will be given.
- Rest at home. Do not go to work, classes, laboratories or social activities.
5. Observe the rules of personal hygiene. Wash and dry your hands properly and frequently. Do not share towels, dishes and chopsticks.
6. Wear a mask to protect others: take special care to cover your coughs and sneezes.
University Health Service
1. All fever cases will be immediately attended by a designated nurse in a separate room, seen by a designated physician.
2. If Chest X ray is required, the patient will be transported in a designated vehicle to the Accident & Emergency Department or designated SARS screening Centres. The patient should wait in a separate room for the transfer.
SUSPECTED CASE
Individual:
- In hospital
- Notify UHS
- Communicate with staff in UHS to provide information related to his/her own disease, activities and contacts within the 10 days preceding the development of symptoms.
Department of Health or Doctor in Hospital
1. Communicate with UHS concerning the condition of the patient.
2. Trace close contacts, e.g. family members living together, colleagues, etc.
Department Head or Faculty Dean
1. Collaborate with UHS.
2. List out all contacts in work/classes within the last 10 days.
3. List out all rooms/venues used by the 'case' in the past 10 days.
4. Convene separate meetings for close contacts and social contacts of the Department staff with the emergency team of UHS. Inform all staff/students concerned to attend the meetings using Communication #3. Ask the absent 'close contact' staff/students to stay at home and contact UHS by phone.
5. Close the involved workplace, classrooms/laboratories, etc. for extensive disinfection*.
6. After the meeting, inform the close contacts not to return to work/class for 10 days after the last day of contact.
7. Address any concern of Department staff and students involved.
8. Post up Communication #1 and the SARS Prevention poster in Chinese and English after the extensive disinfection is accomplished.
9. Refer all media enquiries to CPAO.
* For areas frequently visited by the 'case' within the past 10 days, immediate closure and extensive disinfection is required.
For areas occasionally or rarely visited by the 'case' within the past 10 days, closure and cleansing will be performed at the end of the day as appropriate.
Director of UHS and UHS emergency team
1. Ascertain the condition of the patient by contacting the patient, the hospital doctor and Department of Health. Gather the following information:
- confirm the status as suspected or confirmed SARS case.
- the clinical condition of the patient, the type of investigations and treatment given.
- the activities of the patient within the University campus in the 10 days preceding the development of SARS symptoms.
- the contacts of the patient with University members in the 10 days preceding the development of SARS symptoms.
- the patient's account of possible source of infection.
2. Communicate with Warden, Department Head, Dean of Students and Faculty Head as appropriate.
3. Attend meeting with the staff/students in the Department/s concerned.
The objectives of the meetings are:
- to address the concern of the staff/students.
- to define close contacts at work and in class.
- to perform on-site screening of the close contacts for any early SARS symptoms and to act accordingly.
- to provide guidance and advice to the close contacts including issuing sick leaves, etc.
- to define the infected areas and to arrange cleaning of the areas.
4. Inform Communications and Public Affairs Office.
5. IMMEDIATELY after the meeting with the staff convened by the Department Head, send Communication # 1 through bulkmail (IMPORTANT category).
6. After the meeting, ring the close contact every day for 10 days to ascertain the following:
- that the precautionary measures are followed at home.
- any development of early SARS symptoms among any members and advise appropriate action if necessary.
- any development of psychological consequences among any members and advise appropriate action if necessary.
Dean of Students
- Inform staff in the CEDARS to help out in the UHS emergency Team.
- Inform the Counselling and Person Enrichment Unit to contact the patient and provide
counseling, if required.
- Convene a meeting with the wider student contacts, if necessary, with the assistance of the Director of UHS and CPAO.
Communications and Public Affairs Office (CPAO)
- Keep the Vice-Chancellor informed of the issue.
- Prepare for Press Statement base on Communication # 1 and answer all media enquiries.
- IMMEDIATELY after the meeting of the Department staff/student convened by the Department Head, put Communication # 1 into List C, Intranet for staff and student and update the SARS Website.
Estates Office
- Attend meeting of the Department with the UHS emergency team.
- Carry out extensive disinfection of the workplace/classrooms involved.
CONFIRMED CASE
The Department of Health will determine whether or not a case of SARS has been confirmed. In this event, there are no additional actions to be taken, but all staff should revisit and review all the procedures previously undertaken. The Warden, Director of UHS, Head of Department(s), Dean of Student, Director of Communications will continue to collaborate, update the information on the website and do their best to handle enquiries and actively keep the community informed.
Communication #4 will be sent by bulk e-mail to inform all University members of the confirmed status of the case.
Please note: These Guidelines have been prepared according to the best available information on August 8, 2003. They are subject to change, at short notice, in the light of developments and new evidence. You should check the website for the most recent version at www.hku.hk/sars and HKU Staff/Student Intranet.
HOTLINE
Hotline for University Members Tel.: 6021-5290
Department of Health Hotline Tel: 2961-8968
August 8, 2003
Task Force on SARS
The University of Hong Kong