In response to media enquiries on the Government’s handling of outsourced service contracts that rely heavily on non-skilled workers during the epidemic, a spokesman for the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) today (February 28) said that since the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Government has been aware of and understands the situation of these government outsourced service contractors (including cleansing and property management services) that they might have difficulties strictly fulfilling the contractual service requirements due to the infection of some of their staff members.  The procuring departments would handle relevant contractual matters in a flexible manner under such circumstances and suspend the enforcement of some provisions.  For example:
 

1. procuring departments will not impose penalty or deduction of service fees on service contractors of contracts that rely heavily on non-skilled workers due to their employees’ absence; and
2. procuring departments will allow service contractors to deploy their staff with more flexibility, for example, staff deployment across districts during the epidemic.

 
     The spokesman said, "The Government is compassionate towards the difficulties faced by the outsourced contractors in staff deployment amidst the severe epidemic.  Procuring departments would adopt a flexible approach in handling the service requirements of contracts that rely heavily on non-skilled workers in the coming three months (i.e. March to May 2022).  Procuring departments will discuss the actual service arrangements with relevant contractors, having regard to the circumstances, and help contractors to continue to fulfill their duties while ensuring that public services will not be seriously affected."
 
     In view of the severe epidemic situation, the Government has received feedback from some outsourced service contractors of contracts that rely heavily on non-skilled workers that since there is a large number of their staff members who are infected, or subject to mandatory testing, isolation or quarantine, they are concerned that they might not be able to arrange sufficient manpower to fulfill the contractual service requirements.
 
      "The Government expressed gratitude to all service contractors and frontline workers for their dedication in providing service during the epidemic.  We appeal to private organisations in adopting approaches similar to the one adopted by the Government and being compassionate towards their service contractors for the genuine difficulties they are faced with in the spirit of fighting the epidemic together," the spokesman added.

     The Government announced today (February 28) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.
 
Rapid test
 
     As regards positive sewage testing results in Kwai Tsing, Yuen Long, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin, North and Tai Po Districts, the Home Affairs Department (including Kwai Tsing, Yuen Long, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin, North and Tai Po District Offices) will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents and all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas (see Annex) starting from tomorrow (March 1) for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Kwai Chung Site 2 SL1E-05A/B/C/D – Shek Sau House of Shek Lei (I) Estate, Kwai Chung
• Sewage Testing Area Yuen Long Site 1 TNHE-11A/B and TNHE-08A/B – Heng Chui House and Heng Chun House of Tin Heng Estate, Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long
• Sewage Testing Area Kwun Tong Site 2-7 SMPE-08A/B – Sau Fu House of Sau Mau Ping Estate, Kwun Tong
• Sewage Testing Area Shatin Site 1A WCE-16 and WCE-17 – Man Wo House and Yan Wo House of Wo Che Estate, Sha Tin
• Sewage Testing Area Shatin Site 9A (part) – Ming Chuen House and Ying Chuen House of Shui Chuen O Estate, Sha Tin
• Sewage Testing Area Northern Site 4A (part) – Ka Fuk Estate, Fanling
• Sewage Testing Area Kwai Chung Site 3A (part) – Lai King Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Taipo Site 4A (part) – Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po
• Sewage Testing Area Taipo Site 7A-1 (part) – Hong Chi Pinehill Village, Tai Po

     Members of the public may refer to (www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk) for enquiries relating to the use of the rapid test kits.
 
     When using a rapid test kit, please pay attention to and follow the instructions from the manufacturer to perform the test and read the result properly. It is advisable to record the displayed result by taking a photo immediately after reading. Users should wash their hands before and after performing the tests, and avoid placing non-essential items within the specimen collection area. After completing the test, wrap and seal all components of the test kit carefully and dispose properly.  If the household environment is contaminated during the specimen collecting process, disinfection should be conducted with 1 in 49 diluted bleach solution or 70 per cent alcohol.
 
     If people living or working in the areas with positive sewage testing results are tested positive with the rapid test kits, they may also call 2280 4772, the Government’s 24-hour hotline for “persons tested positive with rapid antigen tests in areas with positive sewage testing results” for assistance. Should these persons begin to develop symptoms before results are available, they may consult their family doctors for advice according to their needs. When severe symptoms (e.g. prolonged fever at 38 degrees Celsius or above, or signs such as shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain) are developed, members of the public are urged to call the 999 hotline for arranging ambulance transfer to hospital as early as possible.

     The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) announced today (February 28) that the free COVID-19 testing service will continue to be provided for eligible persons of targeted groups at community testing centres (CTCs).
 
     In view of the recent dire epidemic situation of Hong Kong and the higher infection risks exposed to the general community, the Government continues to conduct large-scale COVID-19 testing for groups of different risks in order to cut off transmission chains as quickly as possible. The regular compulsory testing of all targeted group persons, whether they have completed a vaccination course or not, must be done by using combined nasal and throat swabs collected by professionals.  The arrangement is applicable to all full-time and part-time staff of relevant industries.

      As the demand for testing services keeps on growing due to the upsurge of epidemic which has put immense pressure on the work in testing specimens collected for nucleic acid tests, the Government has revised the compulsory testing strategy under the risk-based principle starting from February 25. The frequency of compulsory testing for practitioners in high-risk and high-exposure groups (including staff of quarantine centres / hotels / facilities and designated transport, airport staff (Orange Zone and Green Zone), staff of container terminals and shipping services, cold store practitioners) has been revised to once every seven days for those who are fully vaccinated, and remains once every day for those not fully vaccinated.  The Government will also distribute rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to relevant practitioners through the trades, such that they may perform more frequent tests in a testing cycle.  
 
      Separately, the Government has issued a compulsory testing notice on February 27 to require practitioners of Sheung Shui and Tsuen Wan Slaughterhouses to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 using specimens taken through combined nasal and throat swabs every two days and also using RAT kits once every day starting from February 28, so as to safeguard the health of the practitioners and the public.

      Persons of targeted groups eligible for receiving free COVID-19 testing at CTCs are mainly those who are vaccinated or those who are unfit for vaccination because of health reasons. They must present valid medical certificates/vaccination records/documents of identity proof (see Notes) for receiving free tests. This requirement is applicable to all targeted groups. In other words, persons of targeted groups will need to pay for the regular testing service if they do not fall under the category of being unfit for vaccination because of health reasons. The specific requirements for eligible persons of various targeted groups (including testing frequency, specimen requirement, conditions for receiving free test) are set out in the Annex.

     Moreover, the CTCs also continue to provide free voluntary testing service for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and nursing homes who are fully vaccinated (can receive a free test every seven days on a voluntary basis) and personnel working in markets and licensed hawkers (can receive a free test every 28 days on a voluntary basis).
 
     In the light of the epidemic development in Hong Kong, the Government has implemented tightened social distancing measures for catering businesses and scheduled premises operating under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F). Staff of relevant premises may refer to the latest announcements for the current operation conditions. Persons of targeted groups who still have the need to undergo testing have to make bookings online (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) before receiving the free testing service at CTCs. Those who have no appointment or do not meet the eligibility/conditions will need to pay for the testing service at a cost of $240. The free testing arrangement will be available until the end of March.
 
     The Government regularly reviews the coverage and frequency of targeted group testing and if such testing should be publicly funded based on the latest epidemic risk assessment. A spokesman for the FHB said that the provision of free tests for targeted groups involves the use of public resources. Given that the Government must uphold the principle of effective use of resources, public money should only be used to subsidise individual eligible persons for taking nucleic acid tests in very exceptional situations.

     The spokesman reiterated that the two COVID-19 vaccines currently recognised in Hong Kong are safe and effective, giving protection to the vaccinated persons and those around them. The vaccines have been received by billions of people worldwide and getting vaccination is the best way to fight the virus. Except for those with contraindications, most people are fit for vaccination. The Government calls on the public to treasure the vaccine supply in Hong Kong and get vaccinated as soon as possible.
 
Notes:
(i) Persons who are unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination because of health reasons are required to present a relevant medical certificate;
(ii) persons who are vaccinated (i.e. have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, or received the second dose but have not yet passed 14 days, or completed a vaccination course of two doses) should present a relevant vaccination record (such as by downloading their electronic vaccination records or saving the printouts of their vaccination records to their mobile phones, or bringing along the printouts or copies of their vaccination records); and
(iii) certain groups should also present card/letter/document proof issued by relevant organisations for verification of identity.

     District Offices under the Home Affairs Department together with the Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link (the Anti-Coronavirus Link) today (February 28) distributed a total of over 100 000 anti-epidemic support supplies by the Central Government–COVID-19 rapid test kits (rapid test kits) to members of the public for free in different districts in Hong Kong, and will continue to distribute rapid test kits in the coming few days in different districts for members of the public to take the test on their own, in order to identify infected persons as soon as possible. The rapid test kits will be distributed in districts relevant to the positive results of earlier sewage surveillance, and the restricted districts under the  "restriction-testing declaration" operation, so as to distribute anti-epidemic supplies from the Central Government to people in need as soon as possible and for the residents to undergo rapid test.

     The Tsuen Wan District Office, together with Anti-Coronavirus Link, delivered rapid test kits to various locations in the district, including Rural Committees, offices of public housing estates, and residents’ organisations of buildings, for distribution to residents, villagers, cleansing workers and property management staff today, and will continue to distribute rapid test kits within the district in the coming few days with the Anti-Coronavirus Link and district networks.

     The Kwun Tong District Office, together with the Anti- Coronavirus Link, set up street booths in the district, and distributed rapid test kits to residents, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Cha Kwo Ling, Lei Yue Mun and an estate in the district today, and will continue to distribute rapid test kits within the district in the coming few days.

     The Wan Chai District Office, together with the Anti- Coronavirus Link, distributed rapid test kits in Wan Chai District to residents today.  The Anti- Coronavirus Link will continue to distribute rapid test kits to residents in Wan Chai District who are in need through district organisations, owners’ corporations and Mutual Aid Committees.

     In addition, the Tuen Mun District Office, together with the Anti-Coronavirus Link, distributed rapid test kits through the Tuen Mun Rural Committee, owners’ corporations, property management companies to residents, cleansing workers and property management staff in Tuen Mun, and will continue to distribute in the district in the coming few days.

     The Sai Kung District Office, together with the Anti-Coronavirus Link, also distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in a building affected by sewage through the property management company, and distributed rapid test kits to residents living in the rural areas of Hang Hau, the old town and rural areas in Sai Kung through the Sai Kung Rural Committee, the Hang Hau Rural Committee and the Sai Kung Kai Fong Committee. The Anti-Coronavirus Link will continue to distribute rapid test kits to residents living in several public housing estates and estates under Home Ownership Scheme within the district.

     The Yau Tsim Mong District Office, together with the Anti-Coronavirus Link, continued to distribute rapid test kits to several residential buildings in Yau Ma Tei, Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui through the property management companies in the district. The Anti-Coronavirus Link will continue to distribute rapid test kits in Yau Tsim Mong District in the coming few days.

     For more information on rapid test kits, please view the following demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk.

     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.

            

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, this morning (February 28) met with the Mainland’s COVID-19 medical expert delegation that had arrived in Hong Kong. In the afternoon, she inspected the first community isolation facility which was located in Tsing Yi and completed by the Mainland contractor under the commissioning of the Central Authorities, and welcomed at the Shenzhen Bay Port the third batch of Mainland anti-epidemic experts arriving in Hong Kong.
      
     Mrs Lam said during a media interview at the control point that the details of the Compulsory Universal Testing scheme to be launched next month were being worked out and that the circumstances of Hong Kong and the views of the public would be taken into account during the process. She appealed to the public to not fall prey to rumours to avoid unnecessary fear stirred. In view of the public driven by rumours to scramble for food and daily necessities, Mrs Lam stressed that the supplies of food and goods remained normal and that air cargo operations continued. As regards the cross-boundary supply, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) had been working closely with the Guangdong Provincial Government and the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government to broaden the means to ensure the stable supplies of fresh food, vegetables and other goods from the Mainland to Hong Kong, including the "Sea Express" water transportation service launched recently and transportation of goods by railway being planned for implementation at full steam. The current supply of food remained normal. There were sufficient stocks of staple food including rice and pastas. The supply of fresh food from the Mainland largely returned to the normal level. There was no need for the members of the public to worry; they should stay vigilant and pay attention to the information disseminated by the Government so as to avoid being misled by rumours.
      
     In the morning, Mrs Lam met with the leader of the Mainland medical expert delegation cum Director of Guangdong Provincial Geriatrics Institute, Mr Qin Tiehe, and other members to listen to their views and advice on COVID-19 treatment following their stay in Hong Kong since February 19. The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko, members of the Government's anti-epidemic expert advisory group Professor Gabriel Leung and Professor David Hui, and such other experts as Professor Wallace Lau Chak-sing, Professor Lau Yu-lung and Professor Ivan Hung, also attended the meeting.
      
     Mrs Lam expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the expert delegation led by Mr Qin Tiehe for visiting a number of hospitals, North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, the community isolation facility at Penny’s Bay and more over the past week or so to understand the latest epidemic development of Hong Kong and conducting in-depth discussions with clinicians and various experts on the diagnosis and treatment of cases. The delegation also shared with the meeting the Mainland’s experiences in the configuration and clinical management of isolation facilities and their valuable views about the medical arrangements for treating severely ill patients in Hong Kong. Mrs Lam said that the timely treatment for serious patients and reduction of death cases were essential to safeguard the lives and health of Hong Kong people.
      
     In the afternoon, Mrs Lam, accompanied by Professor Chan and the Secretary for Development, Mr Michael Wong, visited the first community isolation facility completed by the Mainland contractor under the commissioning of the Central Authorities in Tsing Yi. Mrs Lam said that with the staunch support by the Central Authorities, the construction team had raced against the clock with 2 000 workers working day and night and completed the project in about a week, creating a miracle in Hong Kong’s construction industry. The project would provide about 3 900 beds for infected persons with no or mild symptoms and persons who needed to be isolated. The HKSAR Government would press ahead with bringing this facility into operation as soon as practicable. The site of this project was one of the eight sites under the co-operation agreement signed between the Architectural Services Department and the designated Mainland contractor the week before with respect to the construction of community isolation and treatment facilities. Meanwhile, the projects at other sites were being carried out at full speed.
      
     Mrs Lam and Professor Chan then went to the Shenzhen Bay Port to welcome the Head of the National Health Commission's anti-COVID-19 leading group, Mr Liang Wannian, together with four members arriving in Hong Kong under the Central Authorities’ arrangements. Mrs Lam expressed her gratitude to him for coming to our city, saying that his rich anti-COVID-19 experience would be instrumental to the HKSAR Government’s fight against the unprecedentedly severe epidemic situation at the moment.