Smart Vent Protector + Long-term Wastewater Monitoring System to Block Community Infections at Source & Eliminate COVID-19 Local Outbreaks

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 4 January 2021 - The Association of Hong KongProfessionals ("AHKP") today put forward two recommendations on how the HKSAR governmentshould introduce innovative measures to effectively handle current virus outbreak,so that Hong Kong can reach a target of zero community infection numbers assoon as possible:

Recommendation 1: Smart Vent Protector

Thereare many high-rise buildings in Hong Kong. Since SARS was discovered in 2003,in order to ensure that pipes do not harbour and spread viruses, the safety anddesign of water traps and exhaust pipes have been a primary consideration of industryexperts. Although many buildings have adopted improved "double-U" water trapdesigns, with the outbreak of the new virus, vent pipeshave become the means of spreading the virus between different flats in thesame building, thereby increasing risks for residents.

The Association of Hong Kong Professionals proposes innovative measures to curb pandemic﹕(from left) Ir Fredrick Keung (Vice Chairman)、Sr Edgar Li (Vice Chairman)、Sr Samsong Wong(Chairman)、Dr Jeffery Pong (General Vice Chairman)、Ir Allen Law (Vice Chairman)

Chairmanof AHKP and Building Surveyor, Mr Samson Wong San, and his SWA professionalteam, started developing the Smart Vent Protector ("SVP") six months ago. Theiraims were to make improvements in current ventilating pipe systems toachieve sustainable public health safety andgreatly reduce concerns of the public and within the industry about thepossibility of such vent pipes spreading viruses.

Afterseveral months of research and improvements, development of the SVP has madegreat progress and has now received full support of the Construction IndustryCouncil (CIC). It is planned for the SVP to be officially launched onto themarket in 2021 to help Hong Kong citizens fightingagainst the pandemic.

MrSamson Wong said: "In order to improve the air quality of exhaust pipes, theSmart Vent Protector incorporates advanced technologies for sterilisation anddeodorisation. It only needs to be installed on the top of existing exhaustpipes on the roof of the building to effectively disinfect foul airfrom the pipes, so that the risks of spreading viruses and bacteria can bereduced. SVP can also help greatly reduce the public and the industry's worriesabout exhaust pipes, and set new standards for building safety. It is a milestonein the architectural,construction, engineering and surveyingindustry."

Recommendation 2: Establish a long-term wastewater monitoring system to detect community infection at source and effectively curb COVID-19 local outbreak

AHKPbelieves that in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus in buildings andcommunities in Hong Kong, it is necessary to stop it at the source. Establishinga long-term wastewater monitoring system to detect any new coronavirus in housing estates,nursing homes, hotels and similar buildings in Hong Kong can further prevent anyspread. With reference to research reports by teams from different countries inrecent months, it is apparent that wastewatermonitoring in communities is an effective tool for identifying transmissionroutes. Some cities have already set up dashboards to display the concentrationof SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.

Therecommendations of AHKP include the use of the test results and scientificanalysis of the virus in wastewaterto assess infection trends in specific communities. This will help improving existing clinical and laboratory monitoring data,and concentrate resources for more effective usage; buildings and communitiescan also carry out better environmental management.

Furthermore, AHKPrecommends that government introduce policies that support, organise and trainprofessionals in various related industries, including registered laboratorieswith qualifications to collect environmental samples of any coronavirus,property management officers, building services engineers, and buildingsurveyors, etc., to assist in taking samples in a standardised manner from underground drain pipes andmanholes related to a building's underground drainage system. The samples collectedthen can be sent to a registered laboratory for analysis. By doing so, the Centre for Health Protection canimmediately receive the relevant reports for systematic assessment and justify their decision for a regionalcompulsory testing plan with other pandemic prevention measures. This can be one of the effective monitoringmeasures to help stopping the spread of COVID-19 to achievethe goal of virus elimination as well as provide more job opportunities.

Dr. Pong Chiu Fai, Executive Vice Chairman of AHKP, said:"Establishing a long-term wastewatermonitoring system to detect any coronavirus not only can detect outbreaks, but also fight apandemic effectively. Under a severe pandemic situation, the best way to cutoff all invisible transmission chains is to implement drastic measures suchmandatory testing and reducing the mobility of citizens. Their livelihood canonly be restored if cases are eliminated as soon as possible, and this will leadHong Kong out of the current situation".

Mr SamsonWong, Chairman of AHKP, believes that the traditional contingency plans fordealing with infectious diseases does not seem to be applicable to the COVID-19pandemic.

Mainland could manage to have close monitoring thesituation, and cities locked down under certain circumstances, so that a largenumber of tests for the virus can be organised to suppress the pandemic.

However, MrWong also commented that although the SARGovernment has not been able to follow the same approach in full due todifferences in the social system, it should arrange adequate resources in atimely manner and choose strict principles of epidemic prevention and moresurveillance methods to continuously innovate measures todeal with the pandemic. Everyone should carry on withthe basic goal of eliminating all cases because, once measures are relaxed, thesituation may rebound and become more severe again. Further resources will thenhave to be used to fight the disease and recovery will be delayed.

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About the Association of Hong Kong Professionals (AHKP)

TheAssociation of Hong Kong Professionals ("AHKP") was established in August 2005,a non-profit seeking organisation dedicated in promoting Hong Kong professionalservices industries, contributing to citizens' livelihood, upholding our corevalues, and enhancing Hong Kong professionals' representation andcompetitiveness. As of 2018, over 600 professional individuals have joinedAHKP, spinning across the spectrum of ten professional institutions, includingdoctors, dentists, barristers, lawyers, engineers, architects, planners,surveyors, landscapearchitects, accountants and company secretaries. AHKP is always advocating in Hong Kong social and economic policiesand development, as well as accelerating professional exchange between HongKong and Mainland China.

Website: https://ahkp.com.hk/

Please downloadAHKP's journal here: https://ahkp.com.hk/hk/journal/