The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     â€‹The Hospital Authority today (February 19) announced the staff members tested positive, patients tested positive via admission screening or testing and nosocomial COVID-19 infection cases:

     A total of 164 staff members in public hospitals and clinics tested positive.

     The following is the statistics of patients tested positive via admission screening or testing in public hospitals.
 

     The following is the statistics of nosocomial infection cases in public hospitals.
 

     Thorough cleaning and disinfection operation 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 (February 19) 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, Kwun Tong, Southern and Wong Tai Sin Districts, the Home Affairs Department (including Kwai Tsing, Kwun Tong, Southern and Wong Tai Sin District Offices) will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas (see Annex) starting from tomorrow (February 20) for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons. The Government appeals to residents and those working in these areas who have been exposed to infection risks to undergo testing on a voluntary basis to achieve "early identification, early isolation and early treatment".
 

• Sewage Testing Area Kwai Chung Site 2 (Part) – Shek Lei (I) Estate, Shek Lei (II) Estate and On Yam Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Kwun Tong Site 2-6 – Tsui Ping (South) Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Southern Site 1A (Part) – Ap Lei Chau Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Wong Tai Sin Site 1 (Part) – Tsz Man Estate

     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. 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.
 
     Since rapid antigen testing can only serve as a reference, it cannot replace the nucleic acid testing that is at present the gold standard for diagnosis of COVID-19. When positive result is obtained in a rapid test, one should further undergo nucleic acid testing for confirmation. For the sake of prudence, they should take personal protective measures, stay home and avoid going out as far as practicable. They should invite relatives or friends to obtain and deliver deep throat saliva specimen collection packs through existing channels. If the result is still positive, the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority will treat the case as tested positive/preliminarily positive under the mechanism. 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 following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (February 19), a total of 3 312 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 264 patients discharged. Fifteen patients passed away. Including six previous unannounced cases, a total of 276 patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.

     There are around 2 400 patients isolated in the Community Isolation Facility in Penny's Bay, and around 110 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 Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 19) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, February 19, the CHP was investigating 197 additional confirmed cases, 166 additional asymptomatic cases and 5 700 cases with pending case status in the past 24 hours (i.e. there were 6 063 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in those 24 hours). Hong Kong has recorded a total of 46 763 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The newly reported cases consist of four imported cases and 6 059 locally acquired cases. The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigation on the cases.

     As at 4pm today, a total of 25 985 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been reported in the past 14 days (February 5 to 18), including 25 893 locally acquired cases and 92 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 18), the total number of confirmed cases were 21 344, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases, pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 2 054, 10 and 17 292 respectively.

     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.

     â€‹The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 19) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, February 19, the CHP was investigating 197 additional confirmed cases, 166 additional asymptomatic cases and 5 700 cases with pending case status in the past 24 hours (i.e. there were 6 063 additional cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus in those 24 hours). Hong Kong has recorded a total of 46 763 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.
     
     The newly reported cases consist of four imported cases and 6 059 locally acquired cases. The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigation on the cases.

     As at 4pm today, a total of 25 985 cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been reported in the past 14 days (February 5 to 18), including 25 893 locally acquired cases and 92 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 18), the total number of confirmed cases were 21 931, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases, pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 2 307, 10 and 16 452 respectively.

     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.