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Health Advice on the Prevention of
Respiratory Tract Infections
to All Market Stall Tenants
In the wake of recent Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
incidents in Hong Kong, the Department of Health has issued a set of health advice
that is also applicable to all market stalls. Attached is a copy of the advice
for your reference. In addition, we also take this opportunity to urge you
to adopt the following measures immediately to protect the health of your employees
and customers: - Step up cleaning and disinfection of the walls, floors,
fixtures and equipment at the stall.
- Any employee found suffering
from respiratory tract illness should cease work immediately and consult a registered
medical practitioner.
- All food, beverage and tableware must be
stored properly.
- In addition to providing customers with tableware
for their own use, cooked food stall operators should also take the initiative
to provide them with additional chopsticks or spoons for the common serving of
food.
- Tableware/towels provided to customers must be thoroughly
washed and sterilized before re-use.
Health
Advice on the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections
(Department
of Health 17 March 2003 ) Health Advice on the Prevention of Respiratory
Tract Infections in Public Places Members of the public are advised
to avoid frequenting crowded public places to prevent the spread of respiratory
tract infections. When visiting crowded places such as cinemas and restaurants,
the following precautionary measures should be taken: - Maintain good
personal hygiene. Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
-
Dispose of used tissue paper properly.
- Keep hands clean. Wash
hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions e.g. after sneezing
- Do
not share towels
- Consult your doctor promptly if you develop
respiratory symptoms, and follow instructions given by your doctor including the
use of drugs as prescribed and adequate rest as appropriate
- Patients
should put on masks to reduce the chance of spread of infection
Workers
in public places should take the following precautionary measures to reduce the
chance of spread of infection : - Maintain good personal hygiene.
Cover nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
- Wash hands after
sneezing, coughing or cleaning the nose
- Consult your doctor promptly
if you develop respiratory symptoms
- Allow plenty of fresh air
into the indoor environment
- If the facilities are mechanically
ventilated, ensure frequent air exchanges and proper maintenance and cleansing
of the system
- Ensure that toilet flushing apparatus is functioning
properly
- Provide toilets with liquid soap and disposable tissue
towels or hand dryers
- Cleanse and disinfect the facilities (including
furniture and toilet facilities) regularly (at least once a day), using diluted
household bleach (i.e. adding 1 part of household bleach to 99 parts of water),
rinse with water and then mop dry
- If the facilities are contaminated
with vomitus, wash / wipe with diluted domestic bleach (mixing 1 part of bleach
with 49 parts of water) immediately
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