The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is raging. City University of Hong Kong (CityU) remains committed to maintaining online teaching and services and responding to the needs of employees and the disadvantaged in society. Anti-epidemic products have been distributed to help fight the spread of the epidemic.

As part of the fight, the Department of Chemistry at CityU has produced around 5,000 bottles of 75% alcohol-based handrub based on the recommendation of the World Health Organisation since February. The bottles of handrub have been distributed to the disadvantaged in society and CityU staff.

In addition, CityU alumni also played an active part in the efforts; members of the Standing Committee of the CityU Convocation has raised donations from alumni and sourced anti-epidemic products including 1,200 bottles of alcohol-based handrub, which have been donated to four social welfare organisations for the visually impaired. The Standing Committee has also collected and distributed 5,500 masks to three social welfare organisations for families with members who are frail or with special needs. 

In the most recent round of donations on March 10, three beneficiary organisations, namely Concord Mutual-Aid Club Alliance, Alliance of Ex-mentally Ill of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Single Parents Association received a total of 500 bottles of alcohol handrub provided by CityU through the Convocation, plus another 600 masks donated by alumni. The anti-epidemic products will be provided to people in need for them to fight the epidemic.

“The new coronavirus is transmitted mainly through respiratory droplets, and sometimes by direct or indirect contact. Besides wearing masks, keeping hands clean is another effective way to prevent infection,” said Professor Michael Lam Hon-wah from the Department of Chemistry who is leading the laboratory team making the handrub. 

CityU experts in epidemiology and public health have recently published research and commentary articles analysing the development of the epidemic and introduced preventive measures. 

Dr Sean Yuan Hsiang-yu, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at CityU, using the model adapted from Imperial College London, estimated in January that Hong Kong residents returning from mainland China after the Lunar New Year celebration, if infected but undiagnosed for 5 days, would bring 60 infected cases in total in a few weeks, which was close to the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong.

According to a study revealed by Professor Alvin Lai Chi-keung, Associate Head of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering at CityU, and his research team, toilet users’ health can be affected by pathogens embedded in airborne aerosol droplets that may rise as high as one metre from the toilet seat during flushing and spread in the air. The team suggested using 1 in 49 diluted household bleach to regularly clean the toilet bowl and 1 in 99 diluted household bleach to clean all areas of the washroom. 

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