The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (February 20), a total of 3 601 patients who are suspected of having or have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus are currently being treated in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre, the Hospital Authority (HA) Infectious Disease Centre, the Community Treatment Facility at AsiaWorld-Expo and public hospitals. There were 227 patients discharged. Fourteen patients passed away. Including five previous unannounced cases, a total of 295 patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.

     There are around 2 300 patients isolated in the Community Isolation Facility in Penny's Bay, and around 200 patients isolated in the Community Isolation Facility in Tsuen Wan Dorsett Hotel.

     The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     The Mainland epidemiological expert delegation that is assisting Hong Kong in tackling the fifth wave of the epidemic today (February 20) continued its visit.

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, said, "To cope with the new wave of the epidemic, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has mobilised all available manpower amongst different bureaux and departments, joining hands to form a robust team to fight the epidemic. We will carefully study and implement the recommendations offered by experts, and manage the various aspects of anti-epidemic work. The Government spares no effort in implementing anti-epidemic strategies that are effective, targeted and most suited to the situation in Hong Kong in order to cut the virus transmission chains as quickly as possible, and to put the fifth wave of the epidemic under control."

     The expert delegation met and exchanged views with the representatives of the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO), the Home Affairs Department (HAD) and the Department of Health (DH) this morning. The OGCIO introduced the technical support provided for the compulsory home quarantine arrangements, including the use of Bluetooth Low Energy electronic wristband pairing with the "StayHomeSafe" mobile application, to monitor persons under compulsory home quarantine to ensure that they remain in the designated premises. Since 2020, the wristbands have been applied to more than 630 000 persons subject to compulsory quarantine. The HAD, on the other hand, introduced the scope of services and mode of operation of the 24-hour hotline (1833 019) set up to support the "StayHomeSafe" Scheme. The HAD also briefed the delegation on the efforts made to appeal for the support from the property management sector to the Scheme. The delegation, accompanied by representatives of the DH, then visited the Quarantine Centre Task Force to learn about the quarantine and isolation work done by the HKSAR Government.

     In the afternoon, the Secretary for the Environment, Mr Wong Kam-sing, together with representatives from the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department (DSD), as well as Professor Zhang Tong of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Hong Kong, briefed the expert delegation on the scientific and technological basis and the continual development of the sewage surveillance programme, the implementation of programme to reinforce the Government operations and its help in fighting the coronavirus epidemic and future direction. The DSD also arranged an on-site demonstration of sewage sample collection at a temporary surveillance station.　

     Mr Wong said, "Since the end of 2020, the sewage surveillance team has been making use of sewage testing technology to monitor the virus spreading in various districts in Hong Kong, including the setting up of about 150 stationary monitoring stations across the city covering a population of around 5 million, as well as carrying out ad hoc sampling at temporary stations tactically in response to the prevailing epidemic situation to collect more and strategic sewage samples. The team has also been studying ways to enhance the sampling process and testing capabilities, and adjusting the sampling methods in the light of the local epidemic development to ensure that the sewage testing continues to effectively assist in the fight against the epidemic."

     Mainland members of the task force of epidemiologists are experts from Guangdong Province, Guangzhou and Zhongshan. They arrived in Hong Kong on February 17.

      

     â€‹The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 20) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, February 20, the CHP was investigating 340 additional confirmed cases, 319 additional asymptomatic cases and 5 408 cases with pending case status in the past 24 hours (i.e. there were 6 067 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in those 24 hours). Hong Kong has recorded a total of 52 830 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The newly reported cases consist of 12 imported cases and 6 055 locally acquired cases. The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigation on the cases.

     As at 4pm today, a total of 31 697 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been reported in the past 14 days (February 6 to 19), including 31 610 locally acquired cases and 87 imported cases. In addition, among the earlier cases reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (February 19), the total number of confirmed cases were 22 128, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases, pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 2 476, 10 and 22 149 respectively.

     Also, as a passenger flight (TG600) operated by Thai Airways arriving in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, on February 18 had one passenger who tested positive upon arrival, and one passenger who failed to comply with the requirements specified under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H), the DH thus invoked Cap. 599H to prohibit the landing of passenger flights from Bangkok operated by Thai Airways in Hong Kong from February 20 to March 5.

     According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for cases with mutant strains, 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 DH according to risk assessment (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf). A list of buildings related to the cases is available at the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

     The CHP strongly reminded members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo the multiple tests on time as required. The compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well. The Government will seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. The Government reiterates that the aim of issuing a compulsory testing notice is to stop the spread of COVID-19 in the community as soon as possible to protect overall public health and safety.

     â€‹â€‹â€‹â€‹The spokesman for the CHP stressed that the local situation of COVID-19 infection became severe recently and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility. With the higher transmissibility and risk of infection of the Omicron mutant strain, the CHP strongly appeals to the community to continue to comply with the social distancing measures, avoid going out and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or gatherings (particularly religious or cross-family activities and gatherings). This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     The Government today (February 20) 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 7.30pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tung Chung (i.e. Ying Yat House, Yat Tung (1) Estate, Tung Chung, excluding The Salvation Army Tung Chung Family Support Centre on G/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 about 3pm tomorrow (February 21). The operation may be extended depending on test results.

     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'. As preliminary positive cases who have lived in the above-mentioned building have been detected recently and the preliminary test results involved a mutant strain, and sewage discharged from the above building 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 12am tomorrow. 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 3pm 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 7 to February 20, 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 February 22, 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 Housing Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 3140 6136) which has started operation at 7.30pm today for residents restricted by the declaration 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 $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 Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" on February 18 with effective from 7pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Sham Shui Po (i.e. Block 21 , Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government yesterday (February 19) extended the period of operation to today (February 20). Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises and undergo two tests under the designated arrangement until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained. In addition, any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from February 5 to February 18, 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 February 20, 2022.

     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 5pm today and carried out enforcement action in the "restricted area" afterwards to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 7pm today.

     In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health mobilised around 360 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.

     The Government delivered food pack, bread and quick-serve macaroni to persons subject to compulsory testing to facilitate their meal arrangements. The Housing Department 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. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 5pm 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 test result 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 7pm. Test records of around 270 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. No person 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).

     The Government reminded the 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 $10,000. 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.