The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority is closely monitoring the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are being issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.
The following is issued on behalf of the Electoral Affairs Commission:
Under the Particulars Relating to Candidates on Ballot Papers (Legislative Council and District Councils) Regulation (Cap. 541M), candidates in the Legislative Council (LegCo) and District Council (DC) elections may apply to have certain registered particulars printed on the ballot papers for easier identification by electors.
Bodies or persons wishing to register or amend their particulars with the Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) in the 2021 registration cycle should hand in their applications by April 15. According to the Regulation, these particulars include the names, abbreviations of names and emblems of prescribed bodies, and the personal emblems of prescribed persons.
In accordance with the Regulation, approved specified particulars have been included in a register made available for public inspection at the EAC's website (www.eac.hk). Bodies or persons concerned are not required to make another application in respect of the specified particulars which have been approved and included in the register.
"Although applications can be submitted at any time during the year, only those applications submitted on or before the statutory cut-off date of April 15 will be processed within the 2021 registration cycle. Applications submitted after April 15 will only be processed in the 2022 registration cycle," a spokesman for the EAC said today (March 12).
Application forms are available at the REO and all District Offices. They can also be downloaded from the EAC's website.
​The EAC will carefully consider all applications in accordance with the criteria and procedures stipulated in the Regulation. Details of all successful applications will be gazetted and open to public inspection at the REO during office hours. The public can also view the information at the EAC's website.
For enquiries concerning the application procedures, please call the REO hotline on 2891 1001.
The Government announced that it has gazetted the directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) to tighten infection control measures in fitness centres. The directions took effect from 0.00am on March 12, 2021 for a period of six days till March 17, 2021.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "In view of the recent large-scale cluster outbreak in fitness centres, we need to tighten the infection control measures in fitness centres with immediate effect, in particular reinstating the mask-on requirement, in order to contain the epidemic. In all circumstances, particularly in an indoor setting, not wearing a mask is a high-risk behaviour and is prone to infection or transmission of COVID-19."
"The first case of this cluster was detected through regular testing required under Cap. 599F. Many of the confirmed cases in this cluster were in good health condition all along and did not show any symptoms when they were confirmed positive to COVID-19. This demonstrates that in order to break the transmission chain in the community successfully, high-risk groups such as staff of fitness centres and other scheduled premises who have frequent contact with others should undergo regular testing."
"In addition, the Government announced on March 8 that all staff of scheduled premises under Cap. 599F (including staff of fitness centres) were included as a vaccination priority group under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. We call on all staff to get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves and others. A higher proportion of persons receiving vaccination in the community will strengthen the control of the epidemic situation, thus creating the conditions for relaxing social distancing measures."
According to the latest directions under Cap. 599F, any person within a fitness centre is required to wear a mask at all times, except when having a shower or consuming food/drink at a table in catering premises. Other requirements currently applicable to fitness centres remain unchanged as follows:
Managers of fitness centres that contravene the statutory requirements under Cap. 599F would have committed a criminal offence. Offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
"We appeal to fitness centres to strictly comply with the requirements, including arranging for their staff to undergo testing once every 14 days. The appointment rate of the city's 19 community testing centres for the next seven days is only about 30 per cent. Staff of fitness centres can make an appointment for free testing at any community testing centre."
"The Government will closely monitor the epidemic development and the compliance situation of infection control measures by fitness centres. If necessary, we would not exclude the possibility of adopting more stringent measures, including requiring staff of fitness centres to undergo testing at a more frequent interval, or requiring the closure of all fitness centres, in order to contain the epidemic."
The Government will exercise the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publish in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 26 specified premises during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
Currently, in all districts in Hong Kong, if one or more new confirmed cases are found in the residential buildings (including buildings for both commercial and residential uses), or there are sewage samples tested positive which implied possible infection risks, the buildings will be included in the compulsory testing notice.
For testing targeting at workplaces, if one or more confirmed cases are found in a workplace, it will be included in the compulsory testing notice.
Twenty-five premises fulfilling the above criteria will be included in the compulsory testing notice today (March 11). In addition, since a staff in French International School, 28 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O was confirmed positive, apart from the staff, students and visitors attending that school also have to undergo compulsory testing taking into account the possible higher infectious risks.
Details of the compulsory testing notice are as follows:
1. Any person who had been present at any specified premises listed in Part A of Annex 1 for more than two hours at any time during the period from February 26 to March 11, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by March 13, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between March 9 and March 11, 2021, they would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
2. Any person who had been present at any specified premises listed in Part B of Annex 1 for more than two hours at any time during the period from February 26 to March 11, 2021 (including but not limited to full-time, part-time and relief staff and visitors), have to undergo testing by March 13, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between March 9 and March 11, 2021, they would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
3. Any person who had been present at any specified premises listed in Part C of Annex 1 for more than two hours at any time during the period from February 26 to March 11, 2021 (including but not limited to full-time, part-time and relief staff, students and visitors), have to undergo testing by March 13, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between March 9 and March 11, 2021, they would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau reminds the public that in accordance with the compulsory testing notice issued earlier, all household members of close contacts are required to undergo compulsory testing. Any person who had lived with a person who is placed under quarantine pursuant to section 22 of the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) (person under quarantine) in the same residential unit on the date of commencement of quarantine or during the 14 days before that day, and who becomes aware of the quarantine of the person under quarantine when the relevant quarantine has not yet been completed, have to undergo testing within two days of he/she becoming aware of the person under quarantine has been placed under quarantine and report to the Government the result of the test by phone (at 6275 6901), fax (at 2530 5872) or email (ct@csb.gov.hk) within three days of undergoing the test.
The Government will set up mobile specimen collection stations at the following locations tomorrow (March 12). Please see Annex 2 for details of service scope:
　　· Tower 6 of The Belcher's, Pok Fu Lam Road
　　· Le Sommet, Fortress Hill
　　· 100 Granville Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East
　　· Fu Chak House, Chak On Estate, Sham Shui Po
　　· Playground outside Yeung King House, Lai King Estate
　　· French International School, 28 Tong Yin Street, Tseung Kwan O
The service period of the mobile specimen collection station at carpark of Quarry Bay Community Hall will be extended to March 13 (Saturday). The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at King George V Memorial Park, Kowloon, MacPherson Playground in Mong Kok and Arthur Street Temporary Playground in Yau Ma Tei will be extended to March 21 (Sunday).
Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:
1. To visit any of the mobile specimen collection stations (see the list and target groups (if applicable) at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html) for testing;
2. To attend any of the community testing centres (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/);
3. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from any of the 121 post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 designated general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points (see the distribution points and times, and the specimen collection points and times, at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html);
4. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority;
5. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the Department of Health (DH) and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results (see the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf); or
6.To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the Centre for Health Protection (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the sample collected as per relevant guidelines.
The spokesman cautioned that testing received at accident and emergency departments of the Hospital Authority or during hospital stays, or testing provided by private laboratories which cannot issue SMS notifications in respect of test results, does not comply with the requirements of the aforementioned compulsory testing notice.
"If persons subject to compulsory testing have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or the community testing centres."
Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notification containing result of the test for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.
Furthermore, persons subject to testing under the compulsory testing notices should, as far as reasonably practicable, take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and, unless for the purpose of undergoing the specified test, stay at their place of residence and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as possible.
Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm. If persons subject to compulsory testing plan to conduct testing at any of the community testing centres, they can check the centre's appointment status in advance. The hotlines of the community testing centres are available at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/info/.
The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to the relevant premises, and seriously verify whether they had complied with the testing notices. Any person who fails to comply with the 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.
Relevant officers of different government departments are empowered to perform certain functions under the relevant Regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), including requesting individuals to provide information and assistance when necessary. Any person who fails to comply with the relevant request commits an offence and would be liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000). Collection and use of any personal data for conducting COVID-19 tests must meet the requirements under the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance (Cap. 486). Government departments or testing service providers which handle the relevant information may provide the data to DH or other relevant departments for anti-epidemic purpose as necessary. The workflow does not involve the provision of any personal data to organisations or persons outside Hong Kong.
The spokesman said, "The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health conditions, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons."
The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme has been implemented since February 26. In the past 24 hours ending at 8pm today (March 11), the following figures were recorded:
(i) About 9 500 persons received their first dose of Sinovac vaccine, including about 6 500 persons vaccinated at eight Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and about 2 400 persons at private doctors and clinics participating in the programme; and
(ii) About 5 700 persons received their first dose of Comirnaty vaccine at seven CVCs.
(iii) A total of about 15 200 persons received their first dose of vaccine.
The overall percentage of people who have received Sinovac vaccine at eight CVCs today is about 70 per cent, while the overall percentage of people who have received Comirnaty vaccine at seven CVCs today is about 96 per cent.
So far, a cumulative total of about 145 800 persons have received their first vaccination dose (Annex 1), with about 131 100 persons receiving Sinovac vaccine and about 14 700 persons receiving Comirnaty vaccine.
In the past 24 hours ending at 0000 hours today, there were six cases of ambulance transfer to hospital. Among them, five cases were discharged and one case was admitted for observation (Annex 2).