The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (March 2) announced that in view of cases of COVID-19 found to be related, for prudence's sake, Kin Wing Cooked Food Market and Tsun Yip Cooked Food Market of the FEHD will be closed earlier today at 7pm, as well as all day tomorrow (March 3). Deep cleaning and disinfection will be conducted during the closure period so as to safeguard the health and safety of market stall tenants and the public.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD has cleaned and disinfected the areas where the persons concerned worked. During the deep cleaning and disinfection period, FEHD staff will also thoroughly clean and disinfect communal areas and facilities in the markets, and call for the co-operation of market tenants to conduct cleaning and disinfection at their respective stalls. In addition, the FEHD will arrange for street cleaning and disinfection in the vicinity of the markets."

     The FEHD will maintain liaison with tenants of the markets, and ask them to go to community testing centres for free testing as soon as possible or to conduct testing by using rapid antigen test (RAT) kits, and obtain negative results before they return to the markets to work. If all goes well, the FEHD will reopen the markets concerned on March 4 (Friday) after the completion of the deep cleaning and disinfection work.

     In addition, since San Hui Market, Kwun Chung Market, Yeung Uk Road Market and Lei Yue Mun Market were also found to be related to cases of COVID-19, the markets will also be closed earlier today at 7pm. Deep cleaning and disinfection in the areas where the persons concerned work, as well as the communal areas and facilities in the markets, will be conducted during the closure period. Also, the FEHD will call for the co-operation of market tenants to conduct cleaning and disinfection at their respective stalls, and arrange for street cleaning and disinfection in the vicinity of the markets. If all goes well, the FEHD will reopen the markets tomorrow after the completion of the deep cleaning and disinfection work.

     The FEHD attaches importance to the hygiene conditions of public markets, cooked food markets (CFMs) and cooked food centres (CFCs), and has adopted the following measures in view of the epidemic situation:

* Stepped up regular cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, CFMs and CFCs, including toilets, escalators, elevators and stair handrails, with diluted household bleach regularly every day. Management service contractors also conduct thorough cleaning in all markets, CFMs and CFCs after the venues are closed every day. Also, the FEHD strongly appeals to the public to use the disinfectant hand sanitisers that are always provided in the markets, CFMs and CFCs;

* With the assistance offered by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, a check on air change in the FEHD's markets, CFMs and CFCs has been completed in 2021 and installation of air purifiers has been carried out according to needs, and the FEHD is now following up with the installation of ultraviolet-C sterilisers at escalator handrails and arranging a special round of cleaning and disinfection of air-conditioning and exhaust systems at the FEHD's markets, CFMs and CFCs; and

* Apart from free testing on a regular basis that has been routinely made available to tenants of markets, CFMs and CFCs and licensed hawkers and registered assistants, etc, RAT kits have been delivered to them and stationed staff of management service contractors on a one-off basis for testing in case of need.

     "The FEHD will continue to closely monitor the situation of each market, CFM and CFC, and will take necessary follow-up action accordingly," the spokesman said.

     With a stronger than normal winter monsoon affecting southern China in the month, the weather of Hong Kong was much colder than usual in February 2022. The monthly mean temperature was 15.2 degrees, 1.9 degrees below the normal figure of 17.1 degrees. Mainly owing to the continuous rain episode from February 19 to 22, the month was also much wetter than usual with a total rainfall of 168.5 millimetres, more than four times of the normal of 38.9mm and the sixth highest on record for February. The accumulated rainfall recorded in the first two months of the year was 172.6mm, more than two times the normal figure of 71.9mm for the same period.
 
     Under the influence of the winter monsoon and a broad cloud band over southern China, the weather was cloudy with a few rain patches on the first three days of the month. With the cloud band thinned out by the drier northerly airstream, local weather turned generally fine in the afternoon of February 4. The northerly airstream also brought cold mornings to the territory from February 3 to 4. With winds gradually turning to the east, it was mainly cloudy with sunny intervals on February 5. Affected by a fresh to strong easterly airstream, there were sunny periods the next day. With a broad band of clouds covering southern China, the weather turned cloudy with a few rain and mist patches on February 7. Local weather remained mainly cloudy from February 8 to 10. There were a few rain patches in the morning of February 8.
 
     With the cloud band thinning out, the weather became generally fine on February 11. Under the influence of an easterly airstream, there were morning mists and sunny periods during the day on February 12. A cold front moved across the coastal areas of Guangdong during the day on February 13. The weather turned cloudy and cooler with a few rain and mist patches on that day. Under the influence of a dry continental airstream, local weather became generally fine and dry later on February 14. With winds freshening from the east, local weather turned cloudier with sunny periods during the day from February 15 to 16. Affected by a strong easterly airstream and a cloud band covering the coast of Guangdong, it was cloudy and cool with a few rain and mist patches on the next two days.
 
     A cold front moved across the coastal areas of Guangdong in the small hours of February 19. Under the influence of the associated intense winter monsoon and the upper-air disturbances, the weather became overcast and cold with frequent rain from February 19 to 22, during which more than 150mm of rainfall were generally recorded over the territory. The prolonged cold and rainy weather also brought the temperature recorded at the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) down to 7.5 degrees on the morning of February 21, the lowest of the month. With the departure of the upper-air disturbances, the weather turned generally fine with cold mornings from February 23 to 25. With the moderation of the winter monsoon, local weather remained generally fine with temperatures rising progressively towards the end of the month. In the afternoon of February 28, the temperature recorded at the HKO rose to a maximum of 22.5 degrees, the highest of the month.
 
     There was no tropical cyclone over the South China Sea and the western North Pacific in February 2022.
 
     Details of issuance and cancellation of various warnings/signals in February are summarised in Table 1. Monthly meteorological figures and departures from normal for February are tabulated in Table 2.

     The Government today (March 2) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" (declaration) effective from 6pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Kwun Tong (i.e. (Wo Tai House, On Tai Estate, Kwun Tong, excluding the car park thereat and Christian Action Lo Kwee Seong On Tai Service Centre and Christian & Missionary Alliance On Tai Kindergarten on UG/F, see Annex.) are 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. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at around noon tomorrow (March 3).

     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'.  As the sewage discharged from the above building was tested positive for COVID-19, it is suspected that there are asymptomatic patients in the building. Given the risk of infection in the relevant area is assessed to be likely higher, the Government decided to make a 'restriction-testing declaration' for the relevant area."

     The Government has set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 11pm tonight. Arrangements have been made for persons subject to compulsory 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 compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility.

     The Government spokesman said, "We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the 'restricted area' as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around noon tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. 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 to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.

     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from February 17 to March 2, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before March 4, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.

     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 $10,000. 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.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (March 2) announced information regarding patients who tested positive via admission screening or testing with patients or staff members identified as close contacts and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases:
      
     The following are the statistics of patients who tested positive via admission screening or by testing in public hospitals with patients or staff members identified as close contacts.
 

     â€‹The following are the statistics of nosocomial infection cases in public hospitals.
 

 
     Thorough cleaning and disinfection operations have been performed in the affected areas by hospitals. The hospitals will continue to closely monitor the health condition of patients and staff members, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

      The Government announced today (March 2) 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 the following districts, the respective District Offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents and all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas starting from tomorrow (March 3) for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons –
 

• Sham Shui Po District – So Uk Estate and Hoi Ying Estate
• Islands District – Mun Tung Estate and Yu Tai Court, Tung Chung
• North District – Ching Ho Estate, Sheung Shui
• Yuen Long District – Ping Yan Court
• Kwai Tsing District – Cheung Hang Estate and Cheung Wang Estate, Tsing Yi

 
     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.