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Author Archives: hksar gov

Government extends period of operation under “restriction-testing declaration” and compulsory testing notice at Leung Kit House in Leung King Estate, Tuen Mun

     â€‹The Government yesterday (February 6) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 7.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Tuen Mun (i.e. Leung Kit House, excluding LKWFS Chu Sui Lan Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten on G/F, Leung King Estate, 31 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government today (February 7) decided to extend the period of operation for Leung Kit House (See Annex) in the “restricted area” and aims at finishing the exercise tomorrow (February 8). Persons subject to compulsory testing at Leung Kit House are required to stay in their premises and undergo two tests under the designated arrangement (including the one conducted yesterday under the declaration), until all such persons identified in Leung Kit House have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained, and upon the agreement of the Secretary for Food and Health having regard to all the circumstances and the public interest of Hong Kong.

     A Government spokesman said, “Recently, sewage discharged from Leung Kit House, Leung King Estate, was tested positive for COVID-19 and over 50 preliminarily tested positive cases as well as two indeterminate cases have been identified under the ‘restriction-testing declaration’ operation conducted yesterday, which is worrying. In view of the significant risk of infection at Leung Kit House, Leung King Estate, we consider it necessary to undertake determined action by extending the ‘restriction-testing declaration’ operation made earlier under Cap. 599J to February 8 to prevent the virus from further spreading.”

     The Government has set up temporary specimen collection stations at the “restricted area” and requested persons subject to testing to undergo testing as designated on February 6 and February 8. Arrangements have been made for persons subject to testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to testing must stay at their place of residence according to the instructions of government officers to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. As a mutant strain is involved, and having considered relevant infection risks, for prudence’s sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.

     The Government spokesman said, “We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience for the public. We sincerely appeal for the co-operation of residents of Leung Kit House (including those who are at work and not currently at the premises) to return to their household and to comply with the testing arrangement. Those who have visited Leung Kit House in the past two weeks for more than two hours should undergo testing on or before February 8, 2022, in accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially.”

     The Tuen Mun District Office has prepared instant noodles, meal boxes, etc, to persons subject to compulsory testing. Daily necessities, cleaning products, etc, will also be provided to them.

     In order to maintain public and emergency services within the “restricted area”, the Government and relevant working staff (such as healthcare officers and other officers of the Hospital Authority, testing service providers engaged by the Government and cleaning service providers) are allowed to enter and leave the “restricted area” on condition that personal information and contact details are given as well as certain infection control instructions are followed (including undergoing testing before leaving the “restricted area” without the need to wait for the test results). In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees.”

     If staying in the “restricted area” will cause unreasonable hardship for individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow those persons to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. Such persons must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and must leave their personal information for contact purposes.

     The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2835 1473) for residents restricted by the declarations to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.

     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and “restriction-testing declaration”. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory 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 compulsory testing order or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

Hospital Authority announces four preliminary positive patient cases detected via admission screening

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Hospital Authority (HA) today (February 7) announced four preliminary positive COVID-19 patient cases detected via admission screening:
      
     A 67-year-old male patient in a surgical ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing. A male patient in the same ward is classified as close contact that will be isolated for quarantine.
          
     An 84-year-old male patient in an orthopaedic ward of Prince of Wales Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing accordingly. Seven patients, who have stayed in the same cubicle with the tested preliminarily positive patient, are classified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. Three staff members, who did not have proper eye protection equipment while conducting tests or providing care for the patient, are classified as close contacts and will be quarantined.
      
     A 49-year-old female patient in an emergency medicine ward of Pok Oi Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing. Five patients stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine.
      
     A 27-year-old female patient in an obstetrics and gynaecology ward of Tuen Mun Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing. Four patients stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts that will be isolated for quarantine.
          
     Thorough cleansing and disinfection have been performed in the affected areas by the hospitals concerned. The hospitals will continue to communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation. read more

Hospital Authority announces four preliminary positive patient cases detected via admission screening

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Hospital Authority (HA) today (February 7) announced four preliminary positive COVID-19 patient cases detected via admission screening:
      
     A 67-year-old male patient in a surgical ward of Queen Elizabeth Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing. A male patient in the same ward is classified as close contact that will be isolated for quarantine.
          
     An 84-year-old male patient in an orthopaedic ward of Prince of Wales Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing accordingly. Seven patients, who have stayed in the same cubicle with the tested preliminarily positive patient, are classified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. Three staff members, who did not have proper eye protection equipment while conducting tests or providing care for the patient, are classified as close contacts and will be quarantined.
      
     A 49-year-old female patient in an emergency medicine ward of Pok Oi Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing. Five patients stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine.
      
     A 27-year-old female patient in an obstetrics and gynaecology ward of Tuen Mun Hospital tested preliminarily positive during admission screening yesterday. The patient is being treated under isolation with stable condition. The hospital’s infection control team has conducted contact tracing. Four patients stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts that will be isolated for quarantine.
          
     Thorough cleansing and disinfection have been performed in the affected areas by the hospitals concerned. The hospitals will continue to communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation. read more

Government finishes exercise on “restriction-testing declaration” in respect of specified “restricted area” in Tuen Mun and enforcement operation for breaches of compulsory testing notice

     â€‹The Government yesterday (February 6) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 7.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Tuen Mun (i.e. Leung Wai House, Leung King Estate, 31 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, the Government had issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the building for more than two hours from January 24, 2022 to February 6, 2022 to undergo compulsory testing on or before February 8, 2022 even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect.
      
     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the “restricted area” yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 1am today (February 7). As at 1am today, around 1 920 people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing, among which three cases tested preliminarily positive were found. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will arrange to follow up.
      
     As it takes time for the testing contractor to re-confirm cases tested positive preliminarily, it took longer than usual to reopen. The Yuen Long District Office had provided food packs for the residents. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 7.30pm today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative testing result or wore a wristband as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 9pm. Test records of around 450 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Nobody was found to have not undergone compulsory testing. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
      
     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) (including the Yuen Long District Office), the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health mobilised around 335 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.
      
     The HAD also set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
      
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification.
      
     The Government reminds the about 190 households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
      
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
      
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will 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 or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more

Government finishes exercise on “restriction-testing declaration” in respect of specified “restricted area” in Tuen Mun and enforcement operation for breaches of compulsory testing notice

     â€‹The Government yesterday (February 6) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a “restriction-testing declaration” effective from 7.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as “persons subject to compulsory testing”) within the specified “restricted area” in Tuen Mun (i.e. Leung Wai House, Leung King Estate, 31 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the “restricted area” have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, the Government had issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the building for more than two hours from January 24, 2022 to February 6, 2022 to undergo compulsory testing on or before February 8, 2022 even if they were not present in the “restricted area” at the time when the declaration took effect.
      
     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the “restricted area” yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 1am today (February 7). As at 1am today, around 1 920 people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing, among which three cases tested preliminarily positive were found. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will arrange to follow up.
      
     As it takes time for the testing contractor to re-confirm cases tested positive preliminarily, it took longer than usual to reopen. The Yuen Long District Office had provided food packs for the residents. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 7.30pm today, the Government took enforcement action in the “restricted area” immediately to verify that all people in the “restricted area” had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative testing result or wore a wristband as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the “restricted area” through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 9pm. Test records of around 450 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Nobody was found to have not undergone compulsory testing. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the “restriction-testing declaration” in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
      
     In this exercise, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) (including the Yuen Long District Office), the Hong Kong Police Force, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health mobilised around 335 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.
      
     The HAD also set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
      
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone’s co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractors, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification.
      
     The Government reminds the about 190 households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
      
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
      
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the “restriction-testing declaration” by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will 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 or the “restriction-testing declaration” is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. read more