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Hong Kong's Sewage Surveillance Programme Wins Gold Award for Innovation in Combating Epidemic

HK

Hong Kong's Sewage Surveillance Programme Wins Gold Award for Innovation in Combating Epidemic
HK

HK

Hong Kong's Sewage Surveillance Programme Wins Gold Award for Innovation in Combating Epidemic

2024-08-14 12:45 Last Updated At:12:58

Hong Kong's sewage surveillance programme wins IWA Project Innovation Awards

​The Territory-wide Sewage Surveillance Programme was awarded the Gold Award of the 2024 International Water Association (IWA) Project Innovation Awards under the category of "Performance Improvement and Operational Solutions". This fully recognises the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's innovative spirit and outstanding technological achievements in using sewage surveillance to help combat the epidemic.

The Awards Gala Dinner was held at the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition in Toronto, Canada, on August 13 (Toronto time). The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, together with the Deputy Director of Drainage Services, Mr Robin Lee, and Principal Medical & Health Officer the Department of Health (DH), Dr Kung Kin-hang, led an interdepartmental delegation to receive the award.

The interdepartmental team, comprising the Environmental Protection Department, the Drainage Services Department and the DH, has implemented a unique territory-wide sewage surveillance programme that combated COVID-19 by using sewage surveillance to provide important data to assist anti-epidemic measures during the most severe epidemic situation in Hong Kong, and brought about significant socio-economic benefits.

"Standing out from 108 submissions worldwide, the programme showcased that the HKSAR Government is keen to apply an innovative spirit that incorporates water research in public health control strategy in developing a framework that not only suits Hong Kong, but is also applicable to other places in the world. The achievements are internationally recognised," Dr Chui said.

The Territory-wide Sewage Surveillance Programme detects the viral concentration of the SARS-Co V-2 virus in the sewage network through a non-intrusive way, covering about 80 per cent of Hong Kong's population during the COVID-19 epidemic. This programme also effectively traces the source of the virus in different anti-epidemic phases and serves a sentinel surveillance function, enabling the Government to keep track of the activity of the virus in the community and the prevalence of its variants. During the fifth wave of the epidemic, the team developed two statistical models using a large amount of sewage virus data, which could predict the number of new cases in real-time two to four days ahead to assist in formulating anti-epidemic strategies and measures.

The programme has received full recognition from both local and foreign experts and has won several awards, including the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service, the Excellence in Partnership Award of the Civil Service Outstanding Service Awards, and the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Grand Award and Merit Award. The sewage monitoring work has also been regularised after the full resumption to normalcy of society and has become one of the key indicators of the COVID-19 surveillance system. Relevant data and results are listed in the COVID-19 & Flu Express released weekly by the DH. Looking ahead, the Government will further strengthen sewage surveillance. The scope of sewage surveillance will be expanded to cover other infectious diseases (such as seasonal influenza) in a stepwise manner, with a view to early identification of risks arising from different infectious diseases to formulate appropriate public health response measures.

The IWA is the world's largest professional organisation in the water sector, bringing together water professionals from 140 countries/areas to explore smart water usage and seek solutions to global water resource challenges. Its Project Innovation Awards are presented every two years to recognise projects and teams that demonstrate outstanding innovation and leadership in research and technology within the professional water research sector.

Hong Kong's sewage surveillance programme wins IWA Project Innovation Awards  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong's sewage surveillance programme wins IWA Project Innovation Awards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong's sewage surveillance programme wins IWA Project Innovation Awards  Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong's sewage surveillance programme wins IWA Project Innovation Awards Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Labour Department highly concerned about fatal work accident that happened in Jardine's Lookout today

​The Labour Department (LD) is highly concerned about a fatal work accident that happened at a detached house in Jardine's Lookout this morning (January 20), in which a man fell from a wooden folding ladder while installing an air-conditioner. He was certified dead later in hospital. The LD is saddened by his death and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family.

The LD's spokesman said, "We commenced an immediate on-site investigation as soon as we were notified of the accident and have issued suspension notices to the contractors concerned, suspending the air-conditioning works at the detached house concerned. The contractors cannot resume the work process until the LD is satisfied that suitable measures to abate the relevant risks have been taken."

The spokesman added, "We will complete the investigation as soon as possible to identify the cause of the accident, ascertain the liability of the duty holders and recommend improvement measures. We will take actions pursuant to the law if there is any violation of the work safety legislation."

To protect workers' safety, the LD reminds contractors that ladders are usually used for ascending and descending only. Using ladders for work-above-ground is unsafe. Contractors shall provide and ensure that workers use appropriate working platforms or other safe means of support, including step platforms or hop-up platforms in conformity with international or national standards, instead of ladders.

The general duty provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance require employers to provide safe working environments, plant and systems of work for their employees. Those who contravene the relevant provisions are liable to a maximum fine of $10 million and imprisonment for two years.

In regard to today's accident, the LD will issue a Work Safety Alert through its mobile application "OSH 2.0", website and email, giving a brief account of the accident concerned to duty holders, workers' unions, professional bodies of safety practitioners and others, and reminding the industry of the importance of following safety precautionary measures to prevent a recurrence of similar accidents.

The LD will also remind the employer concerned of the liability for employees' compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, assist family members of the deceased to claim employees' compensation and closely follow up on the case. For those with financial difficulties, the LD will assist them to apply for appropriate emergency funds. Subject to the needs and wishes of family members of the deceased, the LD will also liaise with the Social Welfare Department for financial or other assistance.

For the sake of securing the safety and health of employees at work, the LD appeals to employers to provide plant and systems of work that are safe and without risks to health. Employees should co-operate with their employers, adopt all safety measures and use personal protective equipment provided properly to avoid endangering their own work safety and that of other workers.

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