The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital today (February 9) announced that a staff member and a patient of a psychogeriatric ward have tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19, with details as follows:
 
     A patient care assistant (PCA) of a psychogeriatric ward tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 yesterday due to home or community contacts. The hospital had immediately conducted contact tracing. No staff member was identified as a close contact.
 
     The hospital's infection control team had immediately arranged testing for all staff members and 29 patients who had contact with the PCA concerned in the ward. One 62-year-old male patient tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 today.
 
     The hospital is still investigating the linkage between the two cases. The patient concerned is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. Sixteen patients who stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle and had contact in the ward were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. Admission to the ward concerned had been suspended, and a thorough cleaning and disinfection were arranged.
 
     The hospital will continue to closely monitor the situation of the ward and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     The Department of Health (DH) today (February 9) said that an outsourced staff member who works at its Yaumatei Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCHC) has tested preliminarily positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     The staff member concerned is responsible for cleaning duties at the MCHC. She last performed duties on February 7. The building where she resides was included in a compulsory testing notice. Her sample collected on February 7 preliminarily tested positive. She was asymptomatic.
 
     She wore appropriate personal protective equipment while performing duties and properly maintained social distancing with people she had contact with. The Centre for Health Protection's epidemiological investigation is ongoing. The MCHC is closed today for thorough cleaning and disinfection. Affected clients have been contacted to reschedule their service appointments. The MCHC will open as usual tomorrow (February 10).​

     In view of the current epidemic situation, MCHCs have stepped up infection control measures, including temperature screening before clinic entry and limiting the number of accompanying carers. At present, all MCHC staff members are wearing masks at work and practising hand hygiene at all times. The DH is highly concerned about the COVID-19 situation and has reminded all staff again to maintain personal hygiene and remain vigilant at all times. If feeling unwell, they should seek medical attention immediately.

     â€‹â€‹The Government on February 6 exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7.30pm that day, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Tuen Mun (i.e. Leung Kit House, excluding LKWFS Chu Sui Lan Anglo-Chinese Kindergarten on G/F, Leung King Estate, 31 Tin King Road, Tuen Mun) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. The Government today (February 9) decided to extend the period of operation for Leung Kit House (See Annex) in the "restricted area" and aims at finishing the exercise around noon tomorrow (February 10). Persons subject to compulsory testing at Leung Kit House are required to stay in their premises and undergo three tests under the designated arrangement (including the ones conducted on February 6 and February 8 under the declaration), until all such persons identified in Leung Kit House have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained, and upon the agreement of the Secretary for Food and Health having regard to all the circumstances and the public interest of Hong Kong.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "Recently, sewage discharged from Leung Kit House, Leung King Estate, was tested positive for COVID-19 and 70 preliminarily tested positive cases have been identified under the 'restriction-testing declaration' operation conducted on February 6 and February 8, which is worrying. In view of the significant risk of infection at Leung Kit House, Leung King Estate, we consider it necessary to undertake determined action by extending the 'restriction-testing declaration' operation made earlier under Cap. 599J to February 10 to prevent the virus from further spreading."
 
     The Government has set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and requested persons subject to testing to undergo testing as designated on February 6, February 8 and February 9. Arrangements have been made for persons subject to testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to testing must stay at their place of residence according to the instructions of government officers to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. As a mutant strain is involved, and having considered relevant infection risks, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.
 
     The Government spokesman said, "We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience for the public. We sincerely appeal for the co-operation of residents of Leung Kit House (including those who are at work and not currently at the premises) to return to their household and to comply with the testing arrangement. Those who have visited Leung Kit House in the past two weeks for more than two hours should undergo testing on or before February 9, 2022, in accordance with the compulsory testing notices issued earlier. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially."
 
     The Tuen Mun District Office has prepared meal boxes and food packs to persons subject to compulsory testing. Daily necessities and cleaning products have also been provided to them.
 
     In order to maintain public and emergency services within the "restricted area", the Government and relevant working staff (such as healthcare officers and other officers of the Hospital Authority, testing service providers engaged by the Government and cleaning service providers) are allowed to enter and leave the "restricted area" on condition that personal information and contact details are given as well as certain infection control instructions are followed (including undergoing testing before leaving the "restricted area" without the need to wait for the test results). In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees."
 
     If staying in the "restricted area" will cause unreasonable hardship for individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow those persons to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. Such persons must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and must leave their personal information for contact purposes.
 
     The Home Affairs Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 2835 1473) for residents restricted by the declarations to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.
 
     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and "restriction-testing declaration". Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. 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 compulsory testing order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority.

     â€‹The Hospital Authority today (February 9) announced the following preliminary positive COVID-19 patient cases detected via admission screening:

     A 31-year-old female patient admitted to a gynaecology ward of Kwong Wah Hospital tested preliminarily positive during an admission screening on February 7. The patient is now under isolation treatment and is in stable condition. The hospital's infection control team had conducted contact tracing accordingly. Two patients who stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. Healthcare staff concerned are equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with infection control guidelines, and currently no staff member is classified as a close contact. 

     Two male patients (69 and 93 years old) in an orthopedics ward and a medical ward of Caritas Medical Centre tested preliminarily positive during an admission screening yesterday (February 8). Both patients are in stable condition and are being treated under isolation. The hospital's infection control team is conducting contact tracing. Currently, 17 patients who have stayed with the two patients concerned in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine.

     A 49-year-old female patient, who has been admitted to the oncology ward of Prince of Wales Hospital, tested preliminarily positive during an admission screening yesterday. She is being treated in isolation and is in stable condition. Eight patients who stayed in the same cubicle with the patient concerned were classified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine. COVID-19 tests have been arranged for the remaining 19 patients in the ward concerned and results are pending.

     A 76-year-old female patient in a medical ward of Ruttonjee Hospital tested preliminarily positive during an admission screening yesterday. The patient is being treated under isolation and is in stable condition. The hospital's infection control team has conducted contact tracing. Four patients who stayed with the patient concerned in the same cubicle were identified as close contacts and will be isolated for quarantine.

     A thorough cleaning and disinfection have been performed in the affected areas by the hospitals. The hospitals will continue to communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (February 9) said that a library staff member working at Tai Po Public Library (TPPL) in Tai Po District and Cheung Chau Public Library (CCPL) in Islands District, an outsourced library staff member working at Tsing Yi Public Library (TYPL) in Kwai Tsing District and a lifeguard working in Kowloon Park Swimming Pool in Yau Tsim Mong District have tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

     All public libraries have been temporarily closed since January 7. The library staff member working at TPPL and CCPL last performed duties on February 4 while the outsourced library staff member last worked at TYPL on January 31. They underwent COVID-19 tests as they felt unwell earlier, and were notified today that they had tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19.

     The lifeguard underwent a compulsory COVID-19 test earlier as there was a confirmed case at his housing estate, and was notified today that he had tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. Kowloon Park Swimming Pool has been temporarily closed since January 7 and he last worked at the Swimming Pool yesterday (February 8).

     The three staff members have no recent travel history, wore surgical masks and observed relevant infection control measures when performing their duties. The LCSD will arrange for their co-workers to undergo COVID-19 testing. The department will also arrange thorough cleaning and sterilisation at their working areas and public utilities according to the guidelines of the Centre of Health Protection (CHP).

     The LCSD is highly concerned about the COVID-19 epidemic and will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP. Staff are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.