How should a sudden public health emergency during the 15th National Games be handled? Recently, the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Bureau, the Hong Kong Department of Health, and the Macao Health Bureau conducted a tabletop exercise via the cloud for the joint public health drill for the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and the 9th National Special Olympics Games.

Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao conduct a table-top exercise via the cloud for the joint public health drill for the 15th National Games.

A simulated public health emergency

The drill simulated a challenging public health emergency. During the games, two basketball players from a certain province were diagnosed with a highly infectious meningococcal infection in Hong Kong. As soon as the alarm was sounded, the emergency response mechanisms of the three regions were immediately activated.

Hong Kong, where the cases were discovered, took the lead in action. It promptly isolated the patients and launched an epidemiological investigation. Leveraging its robust prevention and control network, the Guangdong Provincial Disease Control and Prevention Bureau immediately screened and traced close contacts. At the same time, it fully mobilized relevant medical resources to isolate the incoming delegation from Province A at the Shenzhen port.

Macao, on the other hand, swiftly raised its health and quarantine level, strengthening the epidemiological investigation and monitoring of incoming close contacts, as well as the isolation and treatment of confirmed cases.

Within just two hours, the information-sharing platform among the three regions continuously updated the epidemic progress. Collaborative disposal plans were efficiently implemented through cross-departmental cooperation: identifying the source of infection, blocking the transmission chain, and implementing targeted prevention and control measures.

A multi-level safety net for the Games

In preparation for the 15th National Games, Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao have jointly integrated monitoring data sources, covering medical points in reception hotels, port quarantine, laboratory testing, and epidemic clues in the community.

From the standard definition of cases and epidemiological investigations to guidelines for identifying close contacts, the three regions have precisely defined technical specifications during the drill. This ensures a unified standard and efficient, orderly actions throughout the response process.

Meanwhile, a regular information exchange mechanism has been established for daily operations. Once the warning threshold is triggered, the infectious disease information notification channel will be quickly activated. For major epidemics, the highest-level coordination and decision-making response platform will be launched.