SARS-related Perceptions in Hong Kong

To understand different aspects of community responses related to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), 2 population-based, random telephone surveys were conducted in June 2003 and January 2004 in Hong Kong. More than 70% of respondents would avoid visiting hospitals or mainland China to avoid contracting SARS. Most respondents believed that SARS could be transmitted through droplets, fomites, sewage, and animals. More than 90% believed that public health measures were efficacious means of prevention; 40.4% believed that SARS would resurge in Hong Kong; and ≈70% would then wear masks in public places. High percentages of respondents felt helpless, horrified, and apprehensive because of SARS. Approximately 16% showed signs of posttraumatic symptoms, and ≈40% perceived increased stress in family or work settings. The general public in Hong Kong has been very vigilant about SARS but needs to be more psychologically prepared to face a resurgence of the epidemic

International risk of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant importations originating in South Africa

Omicron, a fast-spreading SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern reported to the World Health Organization on November 24, 2021, has raised international alarm. We estimated there is at least 50% chance that Omicron had been introduced by travelers from South Africa into all of the 30 countries studied by November 27, 2021.Integrative Biolog

International risk of the new variant COVID-19 importations originating in the United Kingdom

A fast-spreading SARS-CoV-2 variant identified in the United Kingdom in December 2020 has raised international alarm. We estimate that, in all 15 countries analyzed, there is at least a 50% chance the variant was imported by travelers from the United Kingdom by December 7th.Financial support was provided by the Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (grant no. COVID190118), the US National Institutes of Health (grant no. R01 AI151176) and CDC COVID Supplement (grant no. U01IP001136).Integrative Biolog

Risk for International Importations of Variant SARS-CoV-2 Originating in the United Kingdom

A fast-spreading severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant identified in the United Kingdom in December 2020 has raised international alarm. We analyzed data from 15 countries and estimated that the chance that this variant was imported into these countries by travelers from the United Kingdom by December 7 is >50%.Financial support was provided by the Health and Medical Research Fund, Food and Health Bureau, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (grant no. COVID190118), the US National Institutes of Health (grant no. R01 AI151176), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID Supplement (grant no. U01IP001136).Integrative Biolog

Effects of School Closures, 2008 Winter Influenza Season, Hong Kong

In winter 2008, kindergartens and primary schools in Hong Kong were closed for 2 weeks after media coverage indicated that 3 children had died, apparently from influenza. We examined prospective influenza surveillance data before, during, and after the closure. We did not find a substantial effect on community transmission

Inquiry web-based learning to enhance information problem solving competences in science

Early research on using web information indicates that secondary students fail to explore much web tools, use them naively and have serious difficulties to understand and integrate web information. In response to these challenges, the main goal of this research has been to design, implement and evaluate an instructional approach that helps students learn from web information. We have developed on-line learning materials which focus on specific curricular contents and provide specific scaffolds to help students accomplish web-based tasks and develop specific information problem-solving competencies. These scaffolds have intended to give support to students involved in information-seeking activities as they were asked questions, searched for information, organised and assessed their findings, and created rich representations of their newly-constructed understandings. We have designed a one year long study to investigate the depth and accuracy of 127 secondary students, as regards their content understanding as well as their development of information problem-solving competencies when using on-line resources to solve instructional tasks. Our research demonstrates that the experimental group performed computer-based activities statistically better than the control group. Our findings also suggest that students were able to develop accurate and in-depth understanding from web information if they could appropriately use search and managerial strategies. This research lends evidence to questions regarding the value of students engaging in on-line inquiry web-based learning to enhance content understanding and to develop more efficient information problem-solving competencies in secondary education

School Closure and Mitigation of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, kindergartens and primary schools were closed when local transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 was identified. Secondary schools closed for summer vacation shortly afterwards. By fitting a model of reporting and transmission to case data, we estimated that transmission was reduced ≈25% when secondary schools closed