The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     From March 20 to 9pm today (March 26), 411 and 103 travellers have been referred to the test centres at the AsiaWorld-Expo and North Lantau Hospital respectively for COVID-19 viral test. So far, 498 travellers have negative test results for COVID-19 and have returned to their residences to continue the 14-day home quarantine.
 
     Preliminary positive test results will be further confirmed by the Department of Health and announced as confirmed cases in due course.
 

     A Government spokesman today (March 26) said that a total of 54 persons have been sent to quarantine centres due to breaches of quarantine orders since the implementation of the compulsory quarantine requirement for persons arriving from foreign places. The Government will continue to enforce against breaches with full force, and press ahead prosecution for cases with sufficient evidence.
      
     The Government encourages the public to make use of the "e-Report Room" (www.erc.police.gov.hk/cmiserc/CCC/PolicePublicPage?language=en) online platform or call the report rooms of police stations (www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/contact_us.html#rr) or 1823 to report suspected cases of breaching quarantine orders.
      
     â€‹The Government once again strongly condemns those who breach quarantine orders. Persons under quarantine must follow the quarantine requirement strictly and stay at their dwelling places for 14 days in order to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 in the community. Leaving dwelling places without permission is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum imprisonment for six months and fine of $25,000.
     

     Two operational events at Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station (YNPS) were reported on the website of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co Ltd (YNPC), a Security Bureau spokesperson said today (March 26).

     On March 24, a large amount of acetes flooded into the seawater diversion channel and circulating water pumping stations of YNPS, continuously blocking the cooling circulating water inlet filters of the Station. At 6.30pm, Unit 4 of YNPS went into automatic safe shutdown, and other units operated at 80 per cent of their full power. After clearance of the acetes and cleaning of the filters by Station staff on site, Unit 4 of YNPS was reconnected to the power grid on March 25 at 1.14pm. The event was classified as Level 0 in accordance with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale and the relevant nuclear safety regulations, and had no effect on the safe operation of the nuclear power station, or on the health of the workers, nearby public or the environment.
      
     From 4.09pm to 4.35pm on March 25, a large amount of acetes flooded into the seawater diversion channel and circulating water pumping stations of YNPS, blocking the cooling circulating water inlet filters of the Station. Units 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the Station went into automatic safe shutdown. As a prudent safety measure, Station staff proactively brought Unit 1 and 5 to safe shutdown conditions. The event was classified as Level 1 in accordance with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale and the relevant nuclear safety regulations. It had no effect on the safe operation of the nuclear power station, or on the health of the workers, nearby public or the environment.
      
     At present, all six units at YNPS are in safe and controllable conditions. Station staff at the scene are taking measures such as fishing out the acetes and cleaning the filters, before reactivating the units and bringing them back to normal operation in accordance with relevant procedures. 
      
     The YNPC has disclosed the details about these two events on its website. They can be viewed at the "operational events" section under the "nuclear and radiation safety information" webpage of the YNPC website (www.yjnp.com.cn) (Chinese only).     

     Two operational events at Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station (YNPS) were reported on the website of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co Ltd (YNPC), a Security Bureau spokesperson said today (March 26).

     On March 24, a large amount of acetes flooded into the seawater diversion channel and circulating water pumping stations of YNPS, continuously blocking the cooling circulating water inlet filters of the Station. At 6.30pm, Unit 4 of YNPS went into automatic safe shutdown, and other units operated at 80 per cent of their full power. After clearance of the acetes and cleaning of the filters by Station staff on site, Unit 4 of YNPS was reconnected to the power grid on March 25 at 1.14pm. The event was classified as Level 0 in accordance with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale and the relevant nuclear safety regulations, and had no effect on the safe operation of the nuclear power station, or on the health of the workers, nearby public or the environment.
      
     From 4.09pm to 4.35pm on March 25, a large amount of acetes flooded into the seawater diversion channel and circulating water pumping stations of YNPS, blocking the cooling circulating water inlet filters of the Station. Units 2, 3, 4 and 6 of the Station went into automatic safe shutdown. As a prudent safety measure, Station staff proactively brought Unit 1 and 5 to safe shutdown conditions. The event was classified as Level 1 in accordance with the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale and the relevant nuclear safety regulations. It had no effect on the safe operation of the nuclear power station, or on the health of the workers, nearby public or the environment.
      
     At present, all six units at YNPS are in safe and controllable conditions. Station staff at the scene are taking measures such as fishing out the acetes and cleaning the filters, before reactivating the units and bringing them back to normal operation in accordance with relevant procedures. 
      
     The YNPC has disclosed the details about these two events on its website. They can be viewed at the "operational events" section under the "nuclear and radiation safety information" webpage of the YNPC website (www.yjnp.com.cn) (Chinese only).     

     A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said today (March 26) that the latest positive serology test results of the Pomeranian which previously tested weak positive for COVID-19 virus proved that the dog has been infected with the virus.

     Virus isolation was performed on previous samples taken from the Pomeranian with a negative result, indicating that no live virus was retrieved. This is in line with the amount of virus genetic material in the samples. Further serological testing has been conducted at the World Health Organization reference laboratory at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on the blood sample taken on March 3 and the final test result is positive. This indicates that the Pomeranian had developed an immune response to the viral infection with antibodies found in the blood. Veterinary experts and scientists from the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of City University of Hong Kong, as well as the School of Public Health of the HKU, have concluded that the result further supported that the Pomeranian has been infected with the COVID-19 virus.

     The spokesman also stressed that these cases of infection in dogs appear to be infrequent. As at yesterday (March 25), the AFCD has conducted tests on 17 dogs and eight cats from households with confirmed COVID-19 cases or persons in close contact with confirmed patients, and only two dogs had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. 

     These findings indicate that dogs and cats are not infected easily with this virus, and there is no evidence that they play a role in the spread of the virus. Nevertheless, as COVID-19 is a newly emerged disease and the situation is still evolving, the AFCD is taking a precautionary approach in quarantining animals (mammals, including cats and dogs) from households with confirmed COVID-19 human cases.

     The spokesman reminded pet owners to adopt good hygiene practices (including hand washing before and after being around or handling animals, their food, or supplies, as well as avoiding kissing them) and to maintain a clean and hygienic household environment. People who are sick should restrict contacting animals. If there are any changes in the health condition of the pets, advice from a veterinarian should be sought as soon as possible. There is currently no evidence that pet animals become sick and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets.