Since the compulsory quarantine measure was introduced on February 8, the first batch of 663 persons has finished their 14-day compulsory quarantine at 0.00am today (February 22). 

     No one from the first batch of persons completing the compulsory quarantine became confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the quarantine period. Government assistance for persons under the compulsory quarantine includes a hotline by the Department of Health's Centre for Health Protection to provide health information and answer enquiries, as well as a dedicated hotline by the Home Affairs Department. Referrals are made to the Social Welfare Department for providing assistance when necessary. 

     During the quarantine period, the Government has various measures in place to monitor whether persons under quarantine are complying with the quarantine order. While officers from disciplinary forces would assist in spot checks, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer would make use of a location-sharing function of communication software and electronic wristbands to ensure that persons under quarantine are staying at their dwelling places.

     According to the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation, except for exempted persons, all persons having stayed in the Mainland for any period during the 14 days preceding arrival in Hong Kong, regardless of nationality and travel documents used, are subject to compulsory quarantine for 14 days. Contravening the compulsory quarantine requirement is a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.  

     In response to media enquiries, the Government Logistics Department (GLD) indicated that a total of three offers were received for the open tender for procuring 57 million masks, which closed today (February 21). GLD will expedite the tender evaluation process in order to award the contract as soon as possible.

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited the Social Welfare Department's (SWD) Integrated Family Service Centre in To Kwa Wan this afternoon (February 21) to express her gratitude to staff members for their tireless efforts in providing assistance to people under quarantine. She also took the opportunity to visit an elderly home in the district to distribute surgical masks to the staff members.

     Mrs Lam visited the Integrated Family Service Centre of the SWD to learn about how colleagues help people under home quarantine who are unable to resolve daily needs on their own, for example, elderly people who live alone, by delivering daily necessities and providing other forms of support to them. The staff members of the Emergency Relief Support Unit of the SWD also shared their experience in supporting the operation of quarantine centres. Since the implementation of compulsory quarantine measures for people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland (including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and visitors from other places) on February 8, the SWD has provided assistance to about 1 900 people from more than 1 200 households.

     Mrs Lam said that the SWD has been providing various services to people in need in society, demonstrating the Government's care for the community. The SWD also plays an important role in this anti-epidemic work by taking care of the practical needs of the people under quarantine. Noting the heavy workload of this responsibility, Mrs Lam expressed her heartfelt appreciation to SWD colleagues for serving the public tirelessly during the epidemic.

     Since the implementation of the compulsory quarantine on February 8 until yesterday, the Department of Health has issued a total of 14 417 quarantine orders. Of them, 13 694 persons are under home quarantine and a large majority are Hong Kong residents.

     Mrs Lam then took the opportunity to visit a private elderly home in the district to distribute a batch of surgical masks produced by the Correctional Services Department to the nursing staff. Understanding the practical needs of the nursing staff, Mrs Lam said that in addition to according priorities to the frontline healthcare workers and government personnel providing emergency services, she announced earlier to set aside about one million surgical masks monthly for staff members of public and private institutions offering residential care services. She expressed the hope that the elderly homes will continue to take disease prevention measures and work with the Government to win the battle against the disease together. The head of the elderly home said that the tight supply of protective equipment in the market has left them with only a limited stock. She thanked the Government for providing surgical masks to them so that they can take care of the elderly with peace of mind.

      

     Hong Kong Customs today (February 21) searched an office of a pharmacy group and its 20 branches in various districts across the territory as well as over 230 retail spots and seized a total of 174 bottles of disinfectant alcohol with suspected false description on composition. A director and six salespersons of the pharmacy were arrested. Customs appeals to members of the public to stop using that type of disinfectant alcohol. Traders should take off the products from the shelves as well.

     Customs earlier received information alleging the sale of disinfectant alcohol with suspected false description on composition at a pharmacy in Tuen Mun. Customs officers were then deployed for immediate action to test-purchase a type of disinfectant alcohol in plastic bottles labelled as "75% ethanol" at the abovementioned pharmacy. The disinfectant alcohol were put on sale in white plastic bottles labelled as 1 litre and was sold at a price of $98 per bottle. Samples were sent to the Government Laboratory to establish its composition and safety.

     Customs yesterday (February 20) received the test results which revealed that the type of disinfectant alcohol concerned consists of less than 0.1% of ethanol while its methanol content reaches 52%. The test also revealed that the actual volume of the bottle of disinfectant alcohol was only 737 milliliters.

     The composition of the disinfectant alcohol was different from the product description according to the test results, in contravention of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance (TDO).

     Noted the test results, Customs conducted immediate enforcement action and searched concurrently the pharmacy group's office in Tuen Mun and its 20 branches located at various districts. A total of 174 bottles of disinfectant alcohol with suspected false description on composition were seized with arrests of seven men, aged between 24 and 43.

     Apart from the group's office and branches, a total of 236 retail spots in various districts were also checked today and no such products were found for sale.

     Methanol is a type of organic solvent which is harmful to human bodies and might cause blindness or even death if being accidentally eaten or misused.

     Customs will further examine the seized disinfectant alcohol product to establish its safety. 

     Investigation is ongoing.

     Customs reminds members of the public to observe the following safety tips when purchasing disinfectant alcohol:
 

• Pay attention to the product description shown on labels, including manufacturing date and validity period;
• Avoid choosing disinfectant alcohol with unknown sources and information; and
• Purchase from reputable shops and brands.

     The following should also be observed when using disinfectant alcohol:
 

• Do not get close to heat or fire sources; 
• Do not smoke; and
• Cover the container immediately after use.

     This operation is part of the "Guardian" operation, which has been running out for 26 days as of today since its launch on January 27. More than 2 300 officers have been mobilised to conduct over 15 000 inspections at retail spots in various districts to ensure that common protective items sold in the market comply with the TDO and the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance (CGSO).

     The "Guardian" operation will continue and Customs will carry on stepping up enforcement actions to combat activities that are in violation of the relevant ordinances. The department will continue to make prompt public updates if irregularities are detected.

     Customs sternly reminds traders not to take advantage of the current situation and not to sell products using unfair trade practices. They must also not sell products with false origins or false trademarks, nor must they sell unsafe consumer goods. Immediate law enforcement actions will be taken and prosecutions will be made with sufficient evidence.

     Under the TDO, any person who supplies goods with a false trade description in the course of trade or business, or is in possession of any goods for sale with a false trade description, or sells or possesses for sale any goods with a forged trademark, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for five years.

     Under the CGSO, it is an offence to import, manufacture or supply consumer goods unless the goods comply with the general safety requirements for consumer goods. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for one year on first conviction, and $500,000 and imprisonment for two years on a subsequent conviction.

     Members of the public may report any suspected violation of the TDO or the CGSO to Customs' 24-hour hotline 2545 6182 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk).

    

     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (February 21) launched a Telegram channel, "Hong Kong Anti-epidemic Information Channel", to disseminate the Government's information on COVID-19 in a more direct and speedy way. In addition, the Government has, since early February, made use of various online platforms to centrally disseminate anti-epidemic information, including an Interactive Map Dashboard (Dashboard) and a thematic website, with a view to updating the public on the relevant information.
      
     The "Hong Kong Anti-epidemic Information Channel" on Telegram broadcasts comprehensive information and the latest updates from the Government, including the number of novel coronavirus infection cases, the affected public services and other important anti-epidemic messages. Members of the public who have installed the Telegram app on their personal computers or mobile phones are welcome to join the Channel at t.me/HKFIGHTCOVID19 to keep themselves posted on the latest developments.
 
     The HKSAR Government also launched an Interactive Map Dashboard on February 3, which was jointly developed and managed by the Development Bureau, Lands Department and a group of volunteers from the Smart City Consortium, with datasets contributed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health, Hospital Authority, and relevant government bureaux and departments. Since its launch, the desktop and mobile versions of the Dashboard have attracted more than 7.5 million views.
 
     The Dashboard has taken on a fresh look today (chp-dashboard.geodata.gov.hk/covid-19/en.html). Apart from improving the layout for more user-friendly navigation, the enhanced version has also built in more functions and housed more government information, including –
 
1. Upgrading the map features to facilitate the public to grasp the latest updates, such as enhancing the connection between the infection case and the places where the case subject has visited;
 
2. Adding the "Map Sensitive" function so that when users resize the map, the case list will automatically display the related cases in a particular region;
 
3. Adding the display function showing the infection time sequence so that the public will get a better understanding of the date and place relating to the infection cases;
 
4. Adjusting the displays on the Dashboard based on CHP's latest categorisation of the infection cases; and
 
5. Installing links to government news and videos.
 
     Furthermore, the Government has revamped the anti-epidemic thematic page on CHP's website for better dissemination of information. The revamped website "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html) integrates news updates from related government bureaux and departments and serves as a one-stop platform for broadcasting the latest updates on COVID-19 as well as information which people are concerned about, such as figures relating to the epidemic, measures undertaken made by bureaux and departments, clarifications made, public health education information on the prevention of COVID-19, as well as practical information related to inbound travel, school arrangements, public transport, public services, etc.
      
     The Government will continue to abide by the principle of openness and transparency in handling the information dissemination work so that members of the public can be well-informed on the situation of the epidemic and get themselves prepared to fight the virus.