New ambulance cleaning methods to be used in wake of increase in Hong Kong coronavirus cases
- Fire Services Department to introduce hi-tech fluorescent markers to check cleanliness of surfaces in ambulances
- Calls to 999 number hit about 2,700 a day at height of fifth wave in March, department reveals
The Hong Kong fire service has boosted the cleaning regime for its ambulances in the wake of a recent surge in coronavirus cases that sparked an increase in emergency calls to about 2,000 a day.
Calls to the 999 number hit about 2,700 a day at the height of the fifth wave in March, according to the Fire Services Department.
The department said its emergency fleet would use scientific methods to check the effectiveness of cleaning and improved disinfectant techniques.
It explained it would use fluorescent markers on surfaces before disinfection, which showed cleanliness levels when inspected under special UVA lights.
Cleaners would also use a technique called ATP bioluminescence assay, which could show inside 10 seconds if samples collected from surfaces were free of microbes.
Dr Mok Ka-leung, the department’s medical director, said that earlier inspection of surfaces by visual methods alone was ineffective.
“The previous method we used was not an objective and scientific way for quality assurance. Therefore, we imposed standards this time for us to access the disinfection results,” Mok explained.
