The Government earlier announced that to continue the gradual resumption to normalcy of society, the management and handling of the COVID-19 epidemic could be progressed to a new stage and mode. The Government today (January 27) reminded members of the public that, starting from next Monday (January 30), the compulsory isolation arrangement for infected persons will be cancelled and the Health Officer will no longer issue isolation orders to infected persons according to the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A). All persons tested positive (including by nucleic acid and rapid antigen tests (RATs)) are not required to report and provide personal particulars via the online platforms of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH). They should take the advice on various health measures against respiratory infection diseases. As regards the monitoring of the epidemic and the disseminating of related information, the CHP will upload onto the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" every day the number of specimens that tested positive by nucleic acid tests as well as the number of death cases because of COVID-19 infection in lieu of the current practice of issuing press releases.

     Apart from that, the Government will adjust the scope of target groups for free nucleic acid testing services at community testing centres/stations, including the termination of free testing provided for persons undergoing voluntary testing at appropriate times according to the situation, so as to focus resources on protecting high-risk premises and groups in need of regular nucleic acid testing.

Arrangements of cancelling of isolation orders
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     Starting from January 30, the Health Officer will no longer issue isolation orders to infected persons according to Cap. 599A. All persons tested positive are not required to report and provide personal particulars via the online platforms of the CHP. The "Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test" (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp), the "Online self-reporting for COVID-19 patient" (www.chp.gov.hk/cdpi), as well as the relevant automatic telephone voice registration system (183 6119) will also cease operation on the same day.

     Meanwhile, the Health Officer will cancel the active isolation orders issued by that time. In other words, those who are currently under isolation at designated premises including their places of residence or isolation facilities will no longer be required to continue their isolation starting from January 30. The Government will arrange for those staying in the isolation facilities to leave in an orderly manner and gazette the notice of relevant cancellation arrangements. In view of the aforementioned adjustments, the Government will also suspend the distribution of anti-epidemic kits to persons tested positive.

Health advice to infected persons
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     Members of the public who tested positive are advised to take the advice on various health measures for preventing respiratory diseases. They should observe personal hygiene, reduce contacts with household members when not wearing masks, open windows to ensure adequate ventilation of the unit, and clean and disinfect household environment every day.

     For infected persons who belong to high-risk groups or develop obvious symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, shortness of breath, vomiting and diarrhoea), they should seek medical attention as soon as possible to obtain timely treatment. Symptomatic persons should stay at home for rest and avoid going out, while asymptomatic persons can go out at will or go to work. To protect the young, students who have tested positive should not attend schools until they have tested negative by RATs. Infected persons should wear well-fitting surgical masks, KF94, KN95 masks, or respirators (such as N95 masks) during the first five days after testing positive. They should avoid having contact with high-risk individuals or having meals with other people at the same table. They should not go to crowded places or attend mass gatherings to lower the risk of transmission.

     Infected persons should observe their own health condition at all times, and seek medical attention as soon as possible if symptoms develop or worsen. As the Government will no longer issue isolation orders, those who do not feel well and are in need of sick leave certificates should seek medical attention from a registered medical practitioner or Chinese medicine practitioner. Doctors will provide diagnosis and treatment and will issue sick leave certificates to patients according to their clinical situation. People tested positive without symptoms should avoid going to public hospitals or general out-patient clinics so as to preserve valuable public healthcare service capacity for those in need. The list of private doctors registered with the Electronic Health Record Sharing System who have obtained the COVID-19 antivirals for managing COVID-19 cases is published on www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/tp_pd_antiviral.pdf to help the public receive treatment.

Arrangements on community isolation facilities
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     Having considered that some infected persons may wish to stay at the community isolation facilities (CIFs) to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19 in the household if their living environment is crowded or their household members fall into high-risk groups, the CIFs will remain in operation for a short period of time for use by Hong Kong residents. Recently infected persons who are Hong Kong residents and need to stay at CIFs may contact the Fire Services Department (Whatsapp platform: 5233 2939; Email: fsd_cif@hkfsd.gov.hk; WeChat: fsd_cif) for transfer arrangement if needed and can stay at the CIF for up to seven days. If they choose to leave the CIF earlier, negative results by RATs are not required but they cannot return to the CIF once they have left. Given that confinees are admitted to the CIF on a voluntary basis, they will not be issued with any sick leave certificate or proof of infection by the Civil Aid Service, the Hospital Authority or the DH. 

     Separately, for residents at residential care homes who are infected and have received less than three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, arrangement can be made for them to stay at the holding centres managed by the Social Welfare Department where care services are available. Residents who develop serious symptoms, regardless of the number of vaccine doses they have received, will be assessed by healthcare professionals based on their symptoms and conditions and be sent to hospitals for treatment if needed. The above transitional arrangements of CIFs and holding centres will last until February 28 (with February 21 being the last date for admission application).

     A 43-year-old man was sentenced by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (January 27) for violating the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A).

     The man was earlier issued with a compulsory quarantine order. Before the expiry of the quarantine order, he left the place of quarantine on June 29 last year. He was charged with contravening sections 22 (1), (4) and (6) of the Regulation and was fined $5,000 by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today.

     A spokesman for the Department of Health said that co-operation and support by members of the public play a critical role in the anti-epidemic work. They must strictly observe relevant requirements in order to fight the pandemic and minimise the risk of transmission in the community. The spokesman reiterated that resolute actions will be taken against anyone who breaches the relevant regulations.

     The Government announced today (January 27) the further extension of the appointment of Mr Clement Chan Kam-wing as the Inspector to investigate the affairs of Next Digital Limited (NDL) by three more months, up to April 27, 2023.
 
     Pursuant to the power conferred on him by sections 841(2) and (3) of the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), the Financial Secretary appointed Mr Chan on July 28, 2021, as the Inspector to investigate the affairs of NDL, with a view to submitting a Final Report to the Financial Secretary in six months. As the above investigation had yet to be completed, the Financial Secretary extended the Inspector's appointment four times up to January 27, 2023.

     As the Inspector has indicated to the Financial Secretary that the above investigation was still ongoing, the Financial Secretary has therefore decided to further extend the Inspector's appointment by three more months up to April 27, 2023.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at yesterday (January 26), a total of 2 233 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 were hospitalised for treatment. Among the hospitalised confirmed patients, 165 were new patients, 1 013 required isolation, 334 required oxygen therapy and 45 required ventilator support. There were nine newly reported critical patients and four newly reported serious patients. There were a total of 107 patients in critical condition and 102 in serious condition, of which 25 critical patients were receiving intensive care. Moreover, there were 274 patients who had recovered, including 174 patients who had been discharged. In addition, 22 patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported. According to preliminary analysis, the cause of death of seven patients was related to COVID-19, while that of the remaining 15 patients was not.

     The overall occupancy of medical beds in acute hospitals is around 98 per cent.

     The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     Hongkong Post announced today (January 27) that, as advised by the postal administration of Mauritius, due to heavy rain, all mail delivery services to Mauritius are subject to delay.