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寄件者
:
Enquiry FHB <
[email protected]>
寄件日期
:
2021年8月31日星期二 18:02
收件者
:
Allyson van de Pol
主旨
:
*Restricted: Re: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Scientific Evidence
Supporting Mask Protocol
附件
:
Reply - request for review (final).docx
Dear Sir/Madam,
Your email dated 16 August 2021 to the Department of Health has been referred to the Food and Health
Bureau. This Bureau has conducted a review to the handling of your request for information made on 2 July
2021, to which a reply was issued on 30 July 2021. Please find our response in the ensuing paragraphs.
As set out in our previous reply, in formulating the mandatory mask-wearing requirement, we have taken into
account the experts' and the World Health Organization (WHO)'s advice in respect of wearing of mask as one
of the critical anti-epidemic measures, including the WHO's guidance titled "Mask Use in the Context of
COVID-19" published on 5 June 2020 and subsequently updated on 1 December 2020 (available at
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-
in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak) (the WHO’s
guidance). In particular, the WHO’s guidance is based on, inter alia, ongoing evaluations of all available
scientific evidence relevant to the use of masks for reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes
COVID-19) by the WHO ad hoc COVI-19 Infection Prevention and Control Guidance Development Group.
In sum, the WHO advises the use of masks as part of a comprehensive package of prevention and control
measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, along with other infection prevention and control measures include
hand hygiene, physical distancing of at least 1 metre, testing, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation etc.
Knowledge about transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is evolving continuously as new evidence
accumulates. According to the WHO’s guidance, the virus can spread from an infected person’s mouth or nose
in small liquid particles when the person coughs, sneezes, sings, breathes heavily or talks. Fomite transmission
is considered a possible mode of transmission for SARS-CoV-2, given consistent finding of environmental
contamination in the vicinity of people infected with SARSCoV-2 and the fact that other coronaviruses and
respiratory viruses can be transmitted this way. Also, aerosol transmission can occur in specific situations in
which procedures that generate aerosols are performed.
In health care settings, there are scientific evidences supporting the use of mask for preventing the spread of the
virus. A systematic review of observational studies on the betacoronaviruses that cause severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and COVID-19 found that the use of face
protection (including respirators and medical masks) is associated with reduced risk of infection among health
workers. Also, two studies found that implementation of a universal masking policy in hospital systems was
associated with decreased risk of healthcare-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection.
In community settings, while there is currently no conclusive scientific evidence on the use of mask for
preventing the spread of the virus, some studies show that wearing of mask is associated with lower risk of
infection of COVID-19. A small retrospective cohort study from Beijing found that mask use by entire families
before the first family member developed COVID-19 symptoms was 79% effective in reducing
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transmission. A case-control study from Thailand found that wearing a medical or non-medical mask all the
time during contact with a COVID19 patient was associated with a 77% lower risk of infection. Several small
observational studies with epidemiological data have reported an association between mask use by an infected
person and prevention of onward transmission of SARSCoV-2 infection in public settings. A number of
studies, some peer reviewed but most published as pre-prints, reported a decline in the COVID-19 cases
associated with face mask usage by the public, using country- or region-level data.
At the same time, it should be noted that the global COVID-19 epidemic situation is still under serious threat
from the Delta variant, with acute surges in the number of confirmed cases within a short period of time in
many countries. Despite large-scale vaccination programmes, many places are also experiencing resurgence of
the virus, which poses enormous challenges to our local anti-epidemic efforts. While the local vaccination rate
has been increasing, it has shown signs of slowing down in recent days and is far from the level required to
prevent imported cases from spreading in the local community.
Having regard to the above WHO’s guidance as well as other factors including public health risk assessment,
higher transmissibility of Delta and other variants, feasibility of mandatory wearing of mask and the local
context etc., the Government considers that the mandatory mask-wearing requirement should be maintained
under the current public health emergency, with a view to preventing the spread of the virus in the local
community which could take a heavy toll on human lives, our public healthcare system and the economy.
The Government will continue to review and adjust the social distancing measures including the mask-wearing
requirement from time to time, having regard to, inter alia, the development of the epidemic situation, risk
assessment and experts' advice.
If you are dissatisfied with this Bureau’s response after review, you may also complain to the
Ombudsman. The Ombudsman can be contacted at –
Address: 30/F, China Merchants Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong
Telephone : (852) 2629 0555
Fax : (852) 2882 8149
Email:
[email protected].
Food and Health Bureau
From: Enquiry FHB [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2021 9:26 AM
To: Allyson van de Pol <foi+request‐693‐
[email protected]>
Subject: *Restricted: Re: Internal review of Freedom of Information request ‐ Scientific Evidence Supporting Mask Protocol
Dear Sir/Madam,
The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) has received your application for review under the Code on
Access to Information on 18 August 2021. Your application is now under processing. According to
paragraph 1.16 of the Code on Access to Information, you will be informed of the latest progress of
the case separately on or before 7 September 2021.
In the meantime, please contact us by e-mail at
[email protected] if you have any enquiry. Thank
you.
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Yours faithfully,
(Mandy FUNG)
for Secretary for Food and Health
From: Allyson van de Pol <
[email protected]>
To: FOI requests at Department of Health <
[email protected]>
Date: 16/08/2021 15:04
Subject: Internal review of Freedom of Information request - Scientific Evidence Supporting Mask Protocol
Dear Department of Health,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of Department of Health's handling of my FOI
request 'Scientific Evidence Supporting Mask Protocol'.
I have asked specifically which studies you are following that shows that mask wearing
stops transmission of viruses and along with a risk/ benefit analysis that overall proves
they are beneficial. So far no studies have been provided. I also asked when we will be
able to stop wearing masks?
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at
this address: https://accessinfo.hk/en/request/scientific_evidence_supporting_m
Yours faithfully,
Allyson van de Pol
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