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With the number of local confirmed COVID-19 cases climbing over these weeks, it is without doubt that many parents and caretakers are concerned about how to ensure the safety and health of children, and would want to do their utmost to protect them. However, what should you do if children are unfortunately diagnosed with COVID-19, and how should you take care of them?

The CCF is here to be your helping hand in navigating this health crisis by providing you with professional, informative and useful resources. Let’s look after your children and get through this pandemic together.

Prevention

• My kids are going to be vaccinated, what should we do?
  Since Feb 15 2022, children aged 3 or above can begin receiving the Sinovac vaccines, while children aged 5 or above can receive the BioNTech vaccines. Parents may make reservations through schools (arrangement to be confirmed with your schools respectively) or COVID-19 Vaccination Programme - Booking System Parents or caretakers are required to accompany the children to the vaccination centre.
  
  HKSAR - Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 Vaccination for Children and Adolescents
  
  CCF understands that parents may have frequent concerns about vaccinations, and children themselves may as well be anxious about the pain. The Child Life Service team has produced videos for parents, including how to get your children mentally prepared, and a few suggested injection positions for vaccinations that can ease their pain and anxiety. One of the videos also explains vaccinations in children’s language so that they can understand the advantages.

• What items should be prepared at home against COVID-19?
  □ Surgical Masks
  □ Thermometer
  □ Oximeter
  □ Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) Kit
  □ Panadol or paracetamol pills
  □ Disinfection / Sanitizing tools
  □ Food
  
  
• What can we do whilst sheltering at home?
  According to HKSAR’s Centre of Health Protection, we are strongly advised to reduce social contact and minimise gatherings. We should keep a distance of at least 1 metre from others to maintain social distance. Children may feel dull and want to go out to play, therefore, parents should explain to them on the situation. It’s important to let them know that it is a safety measure to stay at home, not a punishment.
  
  Child Life team has produced a series of videos, which will be updated from time to time, including DIY game ideas and cooking tutorials, so that families can enjoy fun time at home. You are welcome to subscribe to our YouTube channel to watch our latest videos!

• How does CCF prevent transmission?
  The CCF consider the health and safety of our service users and staff as our primary concern. Since mid-January 2022, our head office and two service centres have been maintaining limited services to reduce transmission possibilities. All staff, especially frontline medical staff who need to visit hospitals and service centres, are required to present a negative Rapid Antigen Test result on the days of duty before entering our offices and centres. In addition, a Rapid Antigen Test must be conducted before and after home visits or contact with patients and families, in accordance with our internal protocol. Any staff who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or has had close contact with the diagnosed cases will stay at home and rest, and their work will be mobilised in accordance with CCF internal guidelines and protocols to protect the health of our staff, patients and their families.

Diagnosis

• How should I conduct Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) with my children?
  There are many sampling methods for RAT, with nasal swabs as the majority, followed by throat swabs and oral sampling. What should I pay attention to when conducting RAT my children? How to explain this procedure to them to reduce their anxiety?
  
  You may take a look at the following tutorial video produced by our Child Life team, so that you are more ready to help your children to conduct RAT at home.
  
  
  
  During the outbreak, some patients suffering from childhood cancer and long-term illnesses still need to go to the hospital for regular treatment, some possible with high frequency. Patients and their families are required to conduct RAT and provide negative results within 24 hours before entering the ward. We have received RAT donations from benevolent companies and individuals, and are distributing to eligible families according to their family conditions, emergency needs and the frequency of hospital visits.
  
  Families in need may kindly fill in the application form here and we will contact you shortly. You are most welcome to share the application form with other families in need as well.

Result of Diagnosis

• What should I do if my test result is positive?
  First, stay calm and let all family members wear a mask to avoid cross-infection. Family members should also pay close attention to their physical condition and take rapid tests when necessary, because there is a high chance of being infected. Try to be in separate rooms and isolate as much as possible. Upon the use of shared facilities such as toilets, make sure you perform a disinfection cleaning immediately, and wash your hands frequently.
  
  If you are tested positive by RAT, whether distributed by the Government or on your own purchase, your case is considered positive. Please report to the “Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test”. If you are unable to report online, please call 1836119 to leave your ID card and phone numbers. The Centre for Health Protection will conduct a telephone interview with you to complete the reporting process. As the hotline is operated manually, cases reported by phone will take longer to process than cases reported online. Please report online where possible. For further details please visit here.
  
  If you are tested positive or preliminary positive by Nucleic Acid Test, you will receive an SMS notification about the result, together with a request to fill in an electronic form here. This is to facilitate the work of the Centre for Health Protection such as epidemiological investigation and arrangement of hospital admission, isolation and quarantine. You will also receive supplies such as hand bands, thermometers, and rapid test kits. However, due to the large number of cases, there may be delays in supplies.
  
  Infected people who have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccines are required to undergo medical surveillance at home. Taking the first day as Day 0, if they obtain negative test results during RATs on both day 6 and 7, they may leave home earlier on Day 7 for their daily activities. For those who have not been vaccinated or have only received one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, you are required to undergo 14-day medical surveillance at home. They must also fulfil relevant testing requirements before being considered for completion of isolation or home quarantine.
  
  HKSAR - My RAT Test result is positive. What should I do?
  HKSAR – My Test Result is positive. What should I do before admissions?

• Recommendations on Caring for Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 at Home:
  □ Record the date and time when the child starts to have symptom(s) of infection.
  □ Monitor the body temperature of the child every 4 hours
  □ Clean the child’s body with a warm towel if a small fever is observed
  □ Record the amount of oral intake
  □ Record the amount and the frequency of urination and bowel opening
  
  It is extremely vital to accompany children during their sickness, and make sure they rest in an environment that is safe and familiar. Parents should stay calm as most children infected with COVID-19 show mild symptoms and will eventually recover fairly quickly. The fever mostly last for about 2 to 3 days and other symptoms will usually subside within a week. However, if parents observe below warning signs, please call 999 for immediate medical attention:

• Breathing difficulty
• Blue lips
• Chest pain
• Fast heartbeat
• Sudden change of sensorium or confusion
• Persistent high fever
• Convulsion
• Poor oral intake

Useful Resources and Links

HKSAR - “Together, we fight the virus” Website

HKSAR – Centre for Health Protection

Archives of List of buildings with confirmed / probable cases of COVID-19

Latest Situation of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Hong Kong (with Interactive Map)

Community Testing Centre - Booking System

Community Testing Centres - Status of Booking Service

Other Support

Since Feb 18 2022, Hong Kong Baptist University Chinese Medicine has offered free online consultation service for COVID-19 patients. Please visit here for more details.