CHP reminds relevant residents to comply with “restriction-testing declaration” operation on case tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 21) reminded members of the public that "restriction-testing declaration" (RTD) has been made for the residence of one of the cases tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus the CHP is following up. The CHP strongly reminds relevant residents that they must comply with the RTD operation. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him/her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the RTD is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     The case involves a 40-year-old male living in 35-37 Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po. He works at construction sites and last went to work on January 19. He developed symptom on January 19 and sought medical attention at a public hospital on January 20. The sample collected tested preliminarily positive. He received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) on August 24 and September 14, 2021 in Hong Kong.

     The CHP is now investigating the places where the patient visited during incubation period in order to ascertain the infection sources and to terminate the silent transmission chains in the community.

     The Government has made an RTD tonight for the building where the patient resided (35-37 Nam Cheong Street, Sham Shui Po) and persons who resided or worked at the building will be subject to increased compulsory testing frequency. The places where the patient had visited during the incubation period will also be included in a compulsory testing notice. Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date.
 
     In view of the recent transmission chains in several areas of Sham Shui Po district (including Tai Hang Tung Estate, Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Nam Cheong Street and Hing Wah Street) where risks of community transmission are higher, the CHP urges residents and those working in relevant areas who are exposed to infection risks to undergo voluntary testing as soon as possible.

     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 fight the virus together. 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 that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.