Permanent Secretary for Health, Doctor James Fong says while members of the frontline team constitute the group with the highest risk of contracting COVID-19, the medical and military personnel who have tested positive to date are not part of the frontline public health response team doing surveillance and containment effort in the communities.
Doctor Fong says at this time, when we have seen an escalation of cases, the Health Ministry reminds all frontline workers of the higher level of COVID-safe behavior expected by the community and their profession.
He says the same is true for all community leaders and persons in leadership positions in our community in setting an example of a high standard for COVID-safe behavior at all times.
Doctor Fong says they rigorously screen and test the frontline personnel for their safety and the public’s safety precisely because they come into contact with persons who have been exposed to the virus.
He says this ensures that the risk to the public from contact with the contract-tracing and containment teams is eliminated.
Doctor Fong says they expect that all frontline teams will carefully observe established COVID-safe protocol and they appreciate the feedback they get from the public in this regard.
He stresses that COVID-safe behavior needs to be maintained by all sections of the community, but especially those in the frontline of the public health response and clinical response.
