In light of the positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Sham Shui Po, Sha Tin and Yuen Long Districts, the Home Affairs Department (including the Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO), the Sha Tin District Office (STDO) and the Yuen Long District Office (YLDO)) today (February 17) distributed a total of about 3 240 COVID-19 rapid test kits (rapid test kits) to residents, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The SSPDO distributed rapid test kits to residents, staff and cleansing workers of a nursing home, a rehabilitation centre, an elderly community centre and a youth centre in the Shek Kip Mei Estate Ancillary Facilities Block for voluntary testing. The SSPO also distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Shek Kip Mei Estate for voluntary testing through the Housing Department and the property management company.

     The STDO also distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Shui Chuen O Estate for voluntary testing through the Housing Department and the property management company.

     In addition, the YLDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Tin Shing Court and Ping Yan Court for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The Home Affairs Department made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early, so as to better protect the infected persons and their families. However, the Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the Government's compulsory testing requirement.

     For more information on rapid test kits, please view the following demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection, the Department of Health: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk.

     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.

      

    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 27 specified places during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test. 
 
     In view of a number of cases tested preliminarily positive / positive, 27 specified places 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 in different districts to facilitate testing to be 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.

     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_20220217.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.

          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 today (February 17), there were around 36 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.
 
     Starting tomorrow (February 18), the Government will set up additional mobile specimen collection stations at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai and Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O. In view of the severe epidemic situation, in order to stop the spread of virus in the community as soon as possible and reduce the number of people waiting at the service points for testing, ticketing machines have been installed in a number of service points for on-site ticket arrangement. Depending on the actual situation of different sites, such ticketing arrangement will be made available at more suitable service points for testing. Members of the public can visit the CTC website (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to check the real-time queueing ticket status of relevant service points for testing.

     Testing services will be provided by CTCs and mobile specimen collection stations at a total of 67 places in various districts tomorrow. Persons subject to compulsory testing 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 Department of Health (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 $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 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." 

     Hongkong Post said today (February 17) that a postal officer, a senior postman, five postmen and a driver of its contractor have tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

     The postal officer has attended duties at Cheung Sha Wan Post Office, Kwong Wah Street Post Office and Tai Kok Tsui Post Office. He last performed duties on February 14. The senior postman works at Wah Ming Post Office and last performed duties on February 12. Both work at the counter behind a partition to keep an appropriate social distance from customers. Among the five postmen, four are at Cheung Sha Wan Delivery Office (CSW/DO) and responsible for delivery work in parts of Un Chau Estate, Un Chau Shopping Centre, Pei Ho Street, Ki Lung Street, Hai Tan Street, Castle Peak Road, Kweilin Street and Fuk Wing Street in Cheung Sha Wan. They last performed duties on February 16 to 17. The other postman is at Tsuen Wan Delivery Office (TSW/DO) and responsible for delivery work in parts of Cheung Tat Road in Tsing Yi. He last performed duties on February 17. Both CSW/DO and TSW/DO are not open to the public. As regards the driver of Hongkong Post's contractor, he works for TSW/DO and last performed duties on February 16. He was not required to handle mail items or performed any delivery duties. The above-mentioned staff members and the driver underwent temperature screening when attending work and their body temperature was normal. They were wearing masks while on duty.

     Upon notification of the cases today, Hongkong Post immediately arranged for the co-workers of the above-mentioned staff members and the driver concerned to undergo COVID-19 testing and thorough cleaning and disinfection of all the facilities and mail items of the premises pursuant to the guidelines set out by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH).

     In respect of the case of CSW/DO and TSW/DO, Hongkong Post has put up notices at the premises that the postmen concerned had visited for delivery to notify the public of the situation. Mail delivery and iPostal Station services for the Cheung Sha Wan district (including Sham Shui Po, Shek Kip Mei, Cheung Sha Wan, Lai Chi Kok, Mei Foo and Nam Cheong) and Tsuen Wan district (including Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Sham Tseng, Ting Kau and Tsing Lung Tau) will be delayed.

     Besides, Cheung Sha Wan Post Office (including its Post Office Box Lobby and iPostal Station), Kwong Wah Street Post Office, Tai Kok Tsui Post Office and Wah Ming Post Office (including iPostal Station) are closed until February 19. Members of the public can access postal services at Sham Shui Po Post Office (55 Un Chau Street), Kowloon Central Post Office (Kowloon Government Offices, 405 Nathan Road), Mong Kok Post Office (1/F, Mongkok Exchange, 37 Bute Street) and Fanling Post Office (North District Government Offices Building, 3 Pik Fung Road). As the above-mentioned post offices will be closed on the date of issue (February 18) of the special stamps on the theme of "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development", members of the public may place their orders on Hongkong Post's online shopping mall "ShopThruPost" (shopthrupost.hongkongpost.hk) or visit other post offices for purchase of the new stamp products. Customers may also use the collection points at other post offices for the date-stamping service of the official first day covers/souvenir covers/private covers. Hongkong Post apologises for the inconvenience caused by the cases. For enquiries, members of the public may call the Hongkong Post enquiry hotline at 2921 2222.

     Hongkong Post will continue to implement measures for social distancing and infection control at all postal facilities to safeguard the health of staff and the public, and maintain close liaison with the CHP of the DH. Staff members are also reminded to take note of their personal hygiene and stay vigilant at all times, and are advised to seek medical advice immediately in case of feeling unwell.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (February 17) announced the following preliminary positive or positive COVID-19 patient cases detected via admission screening or testing:
 

     The patients tested preliminarily positive or positive are being treated under isolation. Some patients, who have already been discharged, have been reported to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) for follow up. The hospitals concerned have performed thorough cleaning and disinfection in the affected areas, and will continue to communicate with the CHP on the latest situation.

     Regarding the nosocomial infections cases reported by individual hospitals earlier, more preliminary positive or positive cases were detected after contact tracing and testing.
 

     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.

     To combat the fifth wave of the epidemic, the Government has implemented the Community Isolation Facility (CIF) Hotel Scheme. The first CIF hotel will commence operation tomorrow (February 18), providing accommodation to isolate people who test positive for COVID-19 but have no or mild symptoms.

     The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, inspected Dorsett Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong this afternoon (February 17) to ensure the first CIF hotel is ready.

     With a view to supporting the anti-epidemic work, the Security Bureau (SB) has set up an anti-epidemic task force responsible for the preparation and management of the CIFs and hotels, and assisting the admission arrangement of confirmed patients to hospitals or CIFs. Former Director of Fire Services, Mr Li Kin-yat, has been appointed as the officer-in-charge of the task force.

     Mr Tang said that the SB has recruited some 1 000 retirees of various disciplinary forces to participate in relevant work. They will be deployed to various CIFs or hotels to assist the operation and management of the facilities. All personnel will receive relevant training and be equipped with sufficient protective gears.

     Mr Tang also expressed his gratitude to the hotels participating in the scheme for supporting the anti-epidemic work, hoping that the Government and the hotel sector, with concerted efforts, can join hands in riding out the fifth wave of the epidemic.

     The Government has already secured about 4 400 hotel rooms earlier. Amongst the hotels, four hotels, namely Dorsett Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, iclub Ma Tau Wai Hotel, iclub Fortress Hill Hotel and Regal Oriental Hotel, will turn into CIFs by this week. The Government will maintain close liaison and co-operation with the participating hotels to ensure the transfer of people thereto, their isolation in the designated hotel rooms and subsequent discharge in an orderly manner.