The Government announced today (May 16) that the quarantine and testing requirements for persons arriving from Taiwan will be further tightened.
      
     In view of the worsening local epidemic situation in Taiwan with the continued rise of confirmed case incidence, the Government announced that with effect from 0.00am on May 17, the quarantine and testing arrangements for persons arriving from Taiwan will be tightened.  All persons who have stayed in Taiwan on the day of boarding or during the 14 days before that day, will have to present at boarding a negative result proof of a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 conducted within 72 hours before the scheduled time of departure of the aircraft, as well as the confirmation of a room reservation in a designated quarantine hotel in Hong Kong.  On arrival at Hong Kong, they will be subject to the "test-and-hold" arrangement at the airport, and on confirmation of negative test results, they will then be required to board the designated transport arranged by the Government to proceed to the designated quarantine hotels for compulsory quarantine.  Under the relevant requirements, non-Hong Kong residents will be denied entry.
      
     Persons who are not fully vaccinated will be subject to a 21-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels, with 4 tests to be conducted during the period.  Fully vaccinated persons will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine at designated quarantine hotels, with 3 tests to be conducted during the period, followed by a seven-day self-monitoring period as well as compulsory testing on the 16th and 19th day of arrival at Hong Kong.
      
     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation (Cap. 599C), the Compulsory Quarantine of Persons Arriving at Hong Kong from Foreign Places Regulation (Cap. 599E) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H) to effect the above measures on May 17.
      
     A Government spokesman said, "The Government has also been closely monitoring the epidemic situation of various places, the prevalence of new virus variants, vaccination progress, and changes in the volume of cross-boundary passenger traffic, and will adjust the boarding and compulsory quarantine requirements for persons arriving at Hong Kong from relevant places as the situation warrants."

     The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been implemented for the 80th day since February 26, 2021.
 
     So far, about 1 955 100 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the public (please see Annex 1). Among them, about 1 167 900 persons have received their first dose, with about 505 400 persons receiving the Sinovac vaccine and about 662 500 persons receiving the BioNTech vaccine. About 787 200 persons have received their second dose, with about 367 800 persons receiving the Sinovac vaccine and about 419 400 persons receiving the BioNTech vaccine.
 
     In the last 24 hours ending at 8pm today (May 16), about 28 800 persons have received vaccination and about 9 000 new vaccination bookings have been made online, detailed as follows:
 
(i) About 3 400 persons received their first dose of the Sinovac vaccine, including about 3 000 persons vaccinated at Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and about 400 persons at private doctors and clinics participating in the programme;
 
(ii) about 3 800 persons received their second dose of the Sinovac vaccine, including about 3 300 persons vaccinated at CVCs and about 400 persons at private doctors and clinics;
 
(iii) about 10 500 persons received their first dose of the BioNTech vaccine at CVCs, and about 11 100 persons received their second dose of the BioNTech vaccine;
 
(iv) the overall percentage of people who have received the Sinovac vaccine at CVCs is about 96 per cent; while the overall percentage of people who have received the BioNTech vaccine at CVCs is about 94 per cent; and
 
(v) about 2 900 persons have made online bookings for receiving their first and second doses of the Sinovac vaccine, while about 6 100 persons have made online bookings for receiving their first and second doses of the BioNTech vaccine.
 
     In the last 24 hours ending at 0.00am today, there were 11 cases of ambulance transfers to hospitals. Among them, six persons were discharged, one person was admitted for observation, three persons were discharged against medical advice and one person left the hospital without seeking any consultation (please see Annex 2).
 
     As background information, in the last 24 hours ending at 0.00am today, there were 53 cases of stroke or myocardial infarction that required admission to the Intensive Care Unit, Acute Stroke Unit and Cardiac Care Unit of public hospitals. The state of new cases admitted to the wards concerned is provided as a cross reference to enhance fuller public understanding of cases of the kind recorded on vaccine recipients.

     The Labour Department (LD) today (May 16) conducted inspections at popular gathering places of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) to check FDHs' compliance with the previous compulsory testing notice.
      
     In view of incidents of FDHs confirmed with infection of COVID-19 with the N501Y mutant strain last month, the Government announced on April 30 that all FDHs working in Hong Kong should receive compulsory testing in the period from May 1 to May 9. FDHs who have received two doses of vaccine for 14 days are exempted from the test.
      
     An LD spokesman said, "The LD conducted inspections at popular FDH gathering places, including Central, Tamar Park in Admiralty, Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Lai Chi Kok Park, Tsuen Wan Park, and footbridge near Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok, etc. for two consecutive days (May 15 and 16). As at 4pm today, LD officers conducted spot checks on a total of 3 539 FDHs and the vast majority had complied with the compulsory testing notice. The Government sincerely thanks the FDHs for their understanding and co-operation. LD officers issued compulsory testing orders to five FDHs who had not complied with the compulsory testing notice, requiring them to undergo testing within a specified time frame. There were 20 FDHs whose testing/vaccination records required further verification, and LD will follow up accordingly."
      
     In view of the threat posed by the mutant strain, the Government again reminds FDHs to strictly observe the social distancing measures, and to avoid gatherings (including in boarding facilities), food sharing and other social activities on their rest days as far as possible to safeguard their personal health. Furthermore, the Government has issued another compulsory testing notice for FDHs. Except for FDHs who have received two doses of vaccine for 14 days, who are exempted from the test, all FDHs working in Hong Kong should receive compulsory COVID-19 testing again in the period from May 15 to May 30.
      
     Any person who fails to comply with 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 order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.
      
     The Government reminds FDHs to keep the SMS notification containing the test result for checking by law enforcement officers when the FDHs are required to provide information about them having taken the specified test. As for exempted FDHs, they can download their electronic vaccination records or save the printouts of their vaccination records on their mobile phones, or bring along the printouts or copies of their vaccination records, so as to prove their eligibility for exemption to law enforcement officers.

Attention TV/radio announcers:

Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

     Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 16) that Ping Shan Tin Shui Wai Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed for cleaning and superchlorination following the discovery of a small amount of vomit in the pool.

     It will be reopened at 6.30am tomorrow.

     The department appeals to swimmers to be considerate and to keep the swimming pools clean. They are advised not to swim after a full meal and should use the toilet facilities if necessary before swimming.

     The Home Affairs Department has opened 19 temporary night heat shelters for people in need of the service.

     The shelters will be open until 8am tomorrow.

     For further information, please call the department's hotline before midnight on 2572 8427.

     The 19 temporary night heat shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Districts:
———————
 
Central and Western –
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex
2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern –
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern –
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai –
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon Districts:
——————
 
Kowloon City –
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices
42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong –
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po –
Shek Kip Mei Community Hall
G/F, Block 42, Shek Kip Mei Estate, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin –
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong –
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories Districts:
————————–
 
Islands –
Tung Chung North Park (Zone B) Activity Room
29 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing –
Kwai Shing Community Hall
Podium, Block 6, Kwai Shing West Estate, Kwai Chung
 
North –
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung –
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin –
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po –
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan –
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun –
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long –
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long
 
Yuen Long –
Tin Yiu Community Centre
Tin Yiu Estate, Tin Shui Wai

     The temporary night heat shelters will resume their functions as either community centres or community halls in the daytime for hire by the local community and cannot continue to be open as heat shelters. People may choose to take refuge from the heat during the daytime in the common areas in any of the 22 designated community centres or community halls. Their opening hours are from 9am to 10pm. For the addresses of the community centres and community halls, please browse the following document: www.had.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/public_services/emergency_services/List_CH_CC_Day_E.pdf.