Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:

Yellow fire danger warning

     The fire danger situation today (February 22) is yellow and the risk of fire is high. People are urged to prevent fires breaking out and hikers should also be vigilant.
 

     The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has been informed by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups that the territory-wide flag-selling activity in public places scheduled to be held today (February 22) has been cancelled, a spokesman for the SWD said.

     For enquiries, please contact Ms Lee of the organisation at 3755 7103.

     The second chartered flight arranged by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to bring back the Hong Kong residents on board the Diamond Princess cruise arrived Hong Kong today (February 22) at around 1.40am.  

     Among the passengers on the flight were 82 Hong Kong residents and two Macao residents. The Macao Special Administrative Region Government has arranged a coach to pick up the two Macao residents directly at the Hong Kong International Airport and return Macao via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

     Before the passengers alight the aircraft, medical officers of the Department of Health (DH) briefly explained the quarantine arrangement to them and checked their body temperature. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, they are transferred by coaches to the quarantine centre at Chun Yeung Estate for quarantine observation for 14 days. 

     Up to February 21, there were a total of 634 confirmed cases of COVID-19 among passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise, of which 66 were Hong Kong residents. They are under treatment in Japan.

     As regards the close contacts of the confirmed cases, the DH has developed a protocol on disease prevention and risk management measures for taking them back to Hong Kong by a chartered flight. The DH is also making its best ndeavours to discuss with the airline on the practicable arrangements. The concerned persons must be tested with negative results on COVID-19 and are fit for travelling.

     Officers of the Immigration Department will stay in Japan to continue to provide practicable assistance to Hong Kong residents who are staying or receiving medical treatment there.

     A Government spokesman said today (February 22) that the Government's newly launched Telegram channel, "Hong Kong Anti-epidemic Information Channel," was counterfeited by a channel that looks very similar but is not operated by the SAR Government. The spokesman reminded the public not to subscribe to this channel to avoid receiving inaccurate information.

     The spokesman pointed out that the correct channel link of the Government channel is t.me/HKFIGHTCOVID19 (not t.me/hkfightcovid2020, which is linked to the fake channel). The Government channel does not use the SAR emblem either.   

     A 48-year-old male Police officer who stationed at North Point Division Police Station was preliminarily tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) on February 20. Police are highly concerned about the case and would fully co-operate with the Department of Health (DH) in tracing the pathology, by proactively providing information such as the duty record of the officer over the past 14 days.
      
     Following the DH’s professional advice, Police provide the following information:

(1) Police are co-operating with the DH in carrying out quarantine measures for the 59 officers. As at 10pm yesterday (February 21), 11 Police officers were notified and being admitted to the quarantine centre at Heritage Lodge of the Jao Tsung-I Academy, including two officers who visited hospital with symptoms at earlier times. Two other officers with symptoms are receiving medical treatment in hospital. Among the four officers with symptoms, three were preliminarily tested negative for the COVID-19, while one is pending result;
 
(2) In the interest of public health, officers stationed at the same unit as the officer were deployed to other supporting units to avoid contact with the public;
 
(3) All Police officers working at North Point Division Police Station and Chai Wan Division Police Station need to wear masks, and everyone entering the stations need to have their body temperature checked in order to ensure health safety without affecting services of Police stations;
 
(4) Police will deploy resources flexibly to ensure provision of emergency services of the relevant districts remain unaffected;
 
(5) Police have sterilise all facilities in Police stations, report rooms, vehicles and quarters concerned, including cleaning public places with 1:49 diluted bleach;
 
(6) Police have reminded officers to reduce social contact to minimise risks of infection, and pay attention to physical health. If feeling unwell, they should consult a doctor and report the case;
 
(7) Police will continue to maintain close liaison with the DH and fully co-operate with related quarantine work.
 
     Besides, it has been circulated on the Internet that a female Police officer of Aberdeen Division Police Station was suspected to be infected with the COVID-19. The officer today sought medical assistance at Ruttonjee Hospital as she felt unwell after work, and her test result is negative.