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Government gazettes compulsory testing notice

     The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 85 specified premises or area during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test. With a view to ensuring a more targeted use of testing resources, starting from February 7, the compulsory testing arrangement is streamlined to two tests. The first test should be taken within three days after the compulsory testing notice is issued while the second test should be taken within the period of fourth to sixth day.
     
     In view of a number of cases tested preliminarily positive / positive, 73 specified premises are included in the compulsory testing notice. The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. The Government will knock on doors at the specified premises to notify residents of the compulsory testing requirement. Mobile specimen collection stations will be set up as far as possible to ensure testing is conducted in compliance with the compulsory testing notice. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well. They are advised to closely monitor their health conditions. They should seek medical attention and undergo testing even if they have only mild symptoms.

     Furthermore, since some sewage samples collected in Tsz Wan Shan, Yau Tong, Kowloon City and Wong Tai Sin have tested positive, 12 specified premises or area are included in the compulsory testing notice.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the Centre for Health Protection (CHP)’s website via the following link: (www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/ctn_20220207.pdf).

     Except for tests that, as specified, may be carried out using deep throat saliva sample, persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must go to any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions to undergo professional swab sampling in fulfilling the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection. The Government appeals to persons who are not yet vaccinated, especially senior citizens, chronic patients and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, to get vaccinated as soon as possible for better self-protection.

     Subsequent to the announcement by the CHP on the updated quarantine arrangements of local COVID-19 cases with a mutant strain, persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the Department of Health (DH). They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf). In addition, all household members of close contacts are required to undergo compulsory testing. Any person who had lived with a person placed under quarantine pursuant to section 22 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (person under quarantine) in the same residential unit on the date of commencement of quarantine or during the 14 days before that day, and who becomes aware of the quarantine of the person under quarantine when the relevant quarantine has not yet been completed, has to undergo testing within two days of him or her becoming aware that the person under quarantine has been placed under quarantine and report to the Government the result of the test by phone (6275 6901), fax (2530 5872) or email (ct@csb.gov.hk) within three days of undergoing the test. For prudence’s sake, the above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     CTCs provide testing services for the public, including free service for persons subject to compulsory testing. Booking and walk-in services are available. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming two weeks to facilitate the public’s planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm on February 7, there were around 46 000 booking places available for the coming week, and around 53 per cent availability for booking places for the coming 14 days. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.
    
    The Government will set up an additional mobile specimen collection station at Tai Hing Community Hall in Tuen Mun today (February 8), while that at soccer pitch of Sun Chui Estate in Tai Wai will continue its operation starting from today to provide free service for persons subject to compulsory testing.
 
     Free testing service will be provided to persons subject to compulsory testing at CTCs and mobile specimen collection stations located at 63 places in various districts today. The testing capacity should be sufficient to meet the demand. Persons subject to compulsory testing and those who received the “LeaveHomeSafe” COVID-19 exposure notification or SMS notification from the CHP reminding them to undergo testing as soon as possible may conduct free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in the Annex.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:
(a) For tests which require using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs
1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the CTCs (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en);
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf), and the relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs; or
4. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the stool sample collected as per relevant guidelines.

(b) For tests which may be carried out using deep throat saliva sample, or for persons holding a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner proving that they are unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any of the 120 post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 designated general out-patient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
2. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results.

     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority or during hospital stays, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.

     “If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the CTCs.”

     Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

     Furthermore, persons subject to testing under the compulsory testing notices should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm. If persons subject to compulsory testing plan to conduct testing at any of the CTCs, they can check the centre’s appointment status in advance. The hotlines of the CTCs are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The spokesman said, “The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.” read more

Home Affairs Department and Centre of Health Protection of Department of Health jointly arranged briefing on infection control under “StayHomeSafe” Scheme for property management sector (with photo)

     The Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) jointly arranged a briefing on infection control under the “StayHomeSafe” Scheme on February 7 in a video conference to brief over 700 representatives from the property management (PM) sector and the related professional bodies on the infection control advice particularly formulated for PM practitioners.

     In view of the latest development of the epidemic situation, the Government has already announced that the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre will start service as a community isolation facility. Meanwhile, the “StayHomeSafe” Scheme will be implemented in parallel, under which those close contacts and persons living together with the close contacts of COVID-19 confirmed cases, who have to undergo 14-day or 4-day quarantine, will change from staying at quarantine facilities to home quarantine.
      
     In support of the implementation of the “StayHomeSafe” Scheme, the HAD and the CHP of DH jointly arranged a briefing yesterday afternoon on the infection control advice particularly formulated for the PM practitioners (see Annex). The briefing was delivered by the Controller of CHP of DH, Dr Edwin Tsui, and Senior Nursing Officer of the Infection Control Branch of CHP of DH, Mr Anthony Ng, and covered various issues, including the following main points –
      
     (a) how couriers can safely deliver items (such as food and necessities) to the household under home quarantine in accordance with the health protocols as advised by the CHP of DH;
     (b) assistance to be rendered by PM practitioners to couriers in delivering goods or PM practitioners to help deliver the goods directly to the households; and
     (c) how the households under home quarantine should handle waste and leave their units to dispose waste. 
      
     Over 700 representatives from the PM sector and related professional bodies participated in the briefing, including representatives from the Property Management Services Authority, Building Services Operation and Maintenance Executives Society, The Chartered Institute of Housing Asian Pacific Branch, Hong Kong Institute of Real Estate Administrators, The Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, The Hong Kong Association of Property Services Agents, The Hong Kong Institute of Facility Management, The Hong Kong Institute of Housing, The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors, Housing Managers Registration Board, International Facility Management Association Hong Kong Chapter, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Hong Kong Property Services Alliance. The PM sector welcomed this briefing and expressed support to the “StayHomeSafe” Scheme and full co-operation with the arrangements as promulgated by the Government.
      
     The infection control advice particularly formulated for the PM practitioners by the CHP of DH under the “StayHomeSafe” Scheme will be uploaded to the “COVID-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) and the website of the Property Management Services Authority (www.pmsa.org.hk).

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