In the course of an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in our neighboring areas, it is shown a spread of SARS in hotels is possible through infected travelers. To take a precautionary action, the Health Department has prepared some guidelines particularly for hotels and other similar settings, on the basis of the health advice recently released for the prevention of transmission of respiratory tract infections in public settings.
For hotels
- Ventilation: Ensure good ventilation in every room for guests and staffs, particularly guest rooms, restaurants, washrooms and all service facilities. For this purpose, the following measures should be strictly observed:
1. Ventilation systems should be evaluated and regulated by engineers of related profession to ensure adequate fresh air supply by the system---calculated by each space volume: the system should freshen the air 6 times or more per hour; or calculated by number of guests and staffs available, each person should be allowed to have at least 17 cubic meters of fresh air per hour.
2. Ensure proper functioning of the ventilation system by frequent maintenance and cleaning of the system and regular change of filters.
3. If windows can be opened, they should be opened daily for a certain period to allow adequate fresh air supply and good ventilation.
- Articles: Ensure all the personal articles, tableware, towels, handkerchiefs and other items provided for the guests are sanitary and hygienic.
1. Provide every toilet with liquid soap and disposable tissues or hand dryers and ensure proper functioning of the facilities. Never share towels.
2. For the disposable articles, recycling is never allowed. Instead, they should be properly wrapped, disposed and cleared at least once a day. The cleaning workers are advised to wear gloves during work, and wash hands properly with liquid soap and tap water after work.
3. For reusable articles, including tableware, towels, handkerchiefs, etc, they must be properly cleaned and disinfected, by procedures strictly adhering to the corresponding regulations, before they are used to serve the guests.
- Environment: Ensure environmental hygiene, details include:
1. Facilities such as surface of furniture, handrails, door-holders, etc should be cleaned and disinfected with diluted household bleach, rinse with water and then wipe dry.
2. When facilities such as floors, carpets, walls, etc are contaminated with spits or other respiratory secretions, they should be promptly disinfected with diluted household bleach (please observe the use instructions on the package of the household bleach).
- Patients: If anyone in the hotels are found to develop respiratory symptoms including fever and coughing, shortness of breath or difficult breathing, they should be treated promptly as follows
1. If they are staff, they should be instructed to consult a doctor promptly. Whenever the doctor thinks it is necessary, they should be temporarily off duty and rest at home.
2. If they are guests, they should be advised to consult a doctor promptly and avoid close contact with others in the hotel. Whenever necessary, management staff of hotel may notify the Health Department (CDC Tel: 533525, Fax: 533524).
For guests
- Strictly observe and cope with the health measures of the hotel
- Observe personal hygiene: no spitting, cover mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing and manage the respiratory secretions with care, and wash hands frequently
- Avoid using articles that are sanitarily questioned. For instance, avoid using wet towels to contact mouth, nose, eyes and hands etc, when proper disinfection is questioned
- Avoid close contact with persons who are suspected to have respiratory tract infections.
- Persons who are unwell should consult a doctor promptly. Whenever the doctor thinks it is necessary, they should stay and rest inside the room to avoid close contact with others.
