An additional 10 million HK dollars (US$1.29 million) will be allocated to local welfare service units to step up precautionary measures against influenza A/H1N1, Social Welfare Department of Hong Kong announced on Friday.

The grant will cover more than 3,000 welfare service units, including residential care homes for the elderly and people with disabilities, day elderly services units, day rehabilitation services units, child care centers and integrated youth services centers.

Each welfare service unit will receive materials or 3,000 HK dollars for the purpose of purchasing cleaning and disinfectant items. The grants will be released within seven days.

The department had allocated 10 million HK dollars for the first time in early May for welfare service units to step up cleanliness and guard against the disease.

(Xinhua News Agency June 13, 2009)