調查報道

疫情持續下政府發內部通知下周一逐步恢復公共服務

2020/02/25

為配合新型冠狀病毒疫情的感染控制措施，不少公共服務自農曆新年後暫停，公務員在家工作，以減少人與人之間接觸。不過傳真社從多個渠道收到消息，政府今日向各部門首長發出內部通知，要求各部門於下周一(3月2日)逐步恢復公共服務。

內部通知提到，要求各部門首長立即著手為下周一恢復正常公共服務作出準備，以及安排一系列防疫措施，包括在公眾人士出入的地方設體溫監測設施、入口處提供消毒劑、加強清潔、宣傳衛生防護知識等，並最遲本周六(2月29日)向公眾公布有關安排。

通告全文如下：
The special work arrangement has been operating since 29 January. HoDs have been monitoring closely their operations, including their provision of public services, and making adjustments having regard to their individual circumstances. It has been decided that from Monday 2 March, all public services of the Government should resume normal in an orderly manner with special measures to be taken where appropriate in line with the Government’s social distancing objective.

As every bureau/department providing public services has its different operating environment, individual HoDs are in the best position to decide on the adjustments and special measures suitable for implementation from 2 March. To assist you in mapping out the adjustments and special measures, the general guidelines below have been drawn up for your reference for application as you deem appropriate –

Government Buildings/Offices with Public Access
– Arrange body temperature taking for all persons at entrance and only those with normal body temperature should be allowed access
– Provide hand sanitizer at entrance
– Provide sanitizing mat at entrance
– Enhance disinfection/cleansing/waste disposal and provision of liquid soap, lidded rubbish bins, etc.
– Modify physical setting and/or use roster system (e.g. lengthening opening hours of public service counters to reduce crowding of clients) to maximize social distancing and minimize the number of staff working in the same office at any one time
– Publicise Department of Health’s precautionary measures for enhancing personal protection and hygiene
– Maximize the use of electronic communication and other transaction systems (e.g. on-line, drop box, telephone, postal mails)
– Control number of clients in reception/waiting area at any one time (e.g. use of discs, prior booking of appointments) and increase queuing distance between one person and the other
– Alternate days for different services (e.g. vehicle licensing on alternate weekdays and driver licensing on the other weekdays)

Government Employees
– Take body temperature before going to work and should not go to the office if temperature is not normal
– Familiarise with Department of Health’s educational materials for enhancing personal protection and hygiene
– Avoid social and meal gatherings
– Wear masks for duties involving face-to-face contact with clients (e.g. public service counters, home visit to clients) and when working in a tight office setting (general registry)
– Consider using rosters (e.g. shift system) and electronic communication system (e.g. video/telephone conferencing) to minimize staff who have to return to work in the office and such that they could use public transport during non-peak hours

HoDs should start gearing up now to prepare for resumption of normal public services with suitable measures starting from Monday 2 March and make the necessary public announcement by this Saturday 29 February at the latest.