A girl who went missing in Kwun Tong has been located.
Lee Yuen-kei, Pinky, aged 13, went missing after she was last seen outside Yau Tong MTR station on February 13. Her family made a report to Police on February 15.
The girl was located on Tsing Yi Road last night (March 2). She sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.
The Government gazetted the directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) to maintain the social distancing measures currently in place, and strengthen infection control measures in catering business premises in view of the recent cluster of cases. The directions and specifications will take effect on March 4, 2021 for a period of 14 days till March 17, 2021.
A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "Since the gradual and orderly relaxation of social distancing measures on February 18, the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains volatile. A number of confirmed cases were found in certain districts over a short period of time, which showed that silent transmission in the community is still active."
"Taking into account the latest public health risk assessment, there is no room for further relaxation of measures at this stage. The Government will therefore maintain most of the existing requirements and restrictions applicable to catering business premises and scheduled premises, as well as the requirements for group gatherings and mask wearing for 14 days until March 17, 2021 (Wednesday). In view of the recent cluster in eateries, the Government will require catering business premises to dedicate staff for clearing used utensils and cleaning and disinfecting used tables and partitions, in order to reduce the relevant infection risk."
"The existing arrangement for regular testing of staff of catering business premises and scheduled premises will continue, as it helps breaking the silent transmission chain in the community promptly. We note that one of the testing contractors of the Hospital Authority (HA) generated testing results behind schedule as a result of an influx of testing demand within a short period of time from employees in the construction sector and staff of catering business premises and scheduled premises. HA is following up the situation. According to our records, setting aside that particular testing contractor, the majority of citizens who returned deep throat saliva (DTS) specimen bottles since early last week could receive testing results in two to three days. Since February 26, testing contractors have generally resumed completing most of the tests within two days. The Government and HA have increased the number of contractors and redistributed the specimen bottles to different contractors with a view to allowing most of the citizens who return the DTS specimen bottles to receive testing results within two days. The Government will continue to monitor closely, and help rationalise the workload among contractors where necessary."
"In the past two weeks, citizens who have undertaken tests with professional nasopharyngeal swab and combined nasal and throat swab at Community Testing Centres (CTCs) or mobile specimen collection stations could basically receive testing results in one to two days. More than 30 000 quotas are available at CTCs daily, and the booking rate for the coming seven days is only about 27 per cent. Employees of the construction sector and staff of catering business premises and scheduled premises can receive free testing with online booking."
The details of the latest requirements and restrictions (see Annex 1 for requirements and restrictions under Cap. 599F) are as follows:
Catering business
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(1) During the 14-day period from March 4, 2021 to March 17, 2021, dedicated staff must be arranged in catering business premises for clearing used utensils and cleaning and disinfecting used tables and partitions. If this arrangement is not practicable, it must be ensured that the staff carrying out the aforementioned duties must adopt hand hygiene measures before switching to perform other duties, and should adopt hand hygiene measures as necessary during each round of cleaning-up duties. Hand hygiene measures include using alcohol-based hand sanitisers, washing hands or changing gloves.
(2) The existing requirements and restrictions applicable to catering business will be maintained during the aforementioned period, including:
(a) If a person responsible for carrying on a catering business adopts specified infection control measures (including ensuring that users (excluding persons who only order takeaways) scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code using the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application on their mobile phones or register their names, contact numbers and the dates and times of their visits before the persons are allowed to enter the premises; and arranging for all staff involved in the operation of the premises to undergo a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 once every 14 days), the catering premises can provide dine-in services from 5.00 am to 9.59 pm every day, with the number of customers at the catering premises at any one time not exceeding 50 per cent of the normal seating capacity of the premises and no more than four persons seated together at one table;
(b) If a person responsible for carrying on a catering business does not adopt the specified infection control measures, the catering premises can only provide dine-in services from 5.00 am to 5.59 pm every day, with the number of customers at the catering premises at any one time not exceeding 50 per cent of the normal seating capacity of the premises and no more than two persons seated together at one table;
(c) Bars or pubs will continue to be closed;
(d) No live performance, dancing activity, karaoke or mahjong-tin kau activity is allowed in catering premises;
(e) The number of persons participating in any one banquet at any one time may not exceed 20 persons; and
(f) Other requirements and restrictions, including that all persons must wear masks at any time in the premises except when eating or drinking, body temperature screening on persons before entering the premises and providing hand sanitisers, etc.
Scheduled premises
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(3) During the 14-day period from March 4, 2021 to March 17, 2021, the existing requirements and restrictions applicable to the scheduled premises under Cap. 599F will be maintained, including that some scheduled premises can be open when the relevant requirements and restrictions are fulfilled (including ensuring that users scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code using the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application on their mobile phones or register their names, contact numbers and the dates and times of their visits before the persons are allowed to enter the premises; and arranging for all staff involved in the operation of the premises to undergo a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test for COVID-19 once every 14 days).
(4) Following scheduled premises under Cap. 599F will continue to be closed:
(a) bathhouses;
(b) premises (commonly known as party rooms) that are maintained or intended to be maintained for hire for holding social gatherings;
(c) establishments (commonly known as clubs or nightclubs) that are open late into the night, usually for drinking, and dancing or other entertainment;
(d) karaoke establishments;
(e) mahjong-tin kau premises; and
(f) swimming pools.
Persons responsible for carrying on catering businesses and managers of scheduled premises 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.
Group gathering
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(5) Unless exempted, the prohibition on group gatherings of more than four persons in public places will continue during the 14-day period from March 4, 2021 to March 17, 2021. The requirement is also applicable to group gatherings in catering business and scheduled premises regulated under Cap. 599F in which the relevant requirements or restrictions are not complied with.
Any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering; organises a prohibited group gathering; owns, controls or operates the place of such a gathering; and knowingly allows the taking place of such a gathering commits an offence under Cap. 599G. Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. Persons who participate in a prohibited group gathering may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty of $5,000.
Mask-wearing requirement
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(6) The mandatory mask-wearing requirement under Cap. 599I will be extended for a period of 14 days from March 4, 2021 to March 17, 2021. During the aforementioned period, a person must wear a mask all the time when the person is boarding or on board a public transport carrier, is entering or present in an MTR paid area, or is entering or present in a specified public place (i.e. all public places, save for outdoor public places in country parks and special areas as defined in section 2 of the Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208)).
Under Cap. 599I, if a person does not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement, an authorised person may deny that person from boarding a public transport carrier or entering the area concerned, as well as require that person to wear a mask and disembark from the carrier or leave the said area. A person in contravention of the relevant provision commits an offence and the maximum penalty is a fine at level 3 ($10,000). In addition, authorised public officers may issue fixed penalty notices to persons who do not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement and such persons may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty of $5,000.
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 seven 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.
Seven buildings fulfilling the above criteria were included in the compulsory testing notice today (March 2).
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 17 to March 2, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by March 4, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between February 28 and March 2, 2021, they would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.
2. Any person who had been engaged to work or had been on duty (including full-time, part-time and relief staff) at any specified premises listed in Part B of Annex 1 at any time during the period from February 17 to March 2, 2021, have to undergo testing by March 4, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between February 28 and March 2, 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 3) for local residents and workers subject to compulsory testing:
　　· Lai King Building, San Po Kong
　　· Block 10, City One Shatin
　　· Residence Oasis, Tseung Kwan O
The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Maple Street Playground in Sham Shui Po and Plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall will be extended to March 7 (Sunday); and that of the station at Edinburgh Place in Central will be extended to March 9 (Tuesday). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are stated in Annex 2. Apart from mobile specimen collection stations, persons subject to compulsory testing can also choose to attend any of the community testing centres in all districts to receive testing free of charge.
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 following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) made the following announcement today (March 2) regarding a patient admitted to hospital after vaccination:
A male patient with chronic and respiratory diseases attended Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of QEH by himself at around 1.30am on February 28. The patient was conscious but suffered from shortness of breath, and reported that a COVID-19 vaccination was received on February 26. The patient was preliminarily diagnosed with bronchitis by AED doctor and was transferred to medical ward for further management at around 3am.
The patient's condition deteriorated and resuscitation was performed by healthcare workers. The patient eventually succumbed at around 6am. The case has been referred to the Coroner to follow up.
The concerned departments reviewed the patient's case today and noticed the patient's COVID-19 vaccination history. The case was then reported to the hospital management, HA Head Office and the Department of Health according to the established mechanism.
The Department of Health (DH) tonight (March 2) received a report from the Hospital Authority (HA) regarding a suspected serious adverse event following COVID-19 vaccination. The case involved a 63-year-old man who received COVID-19 vaccination at Kwun Chung Sports Centre Community Vaccination Centre in Jordan on February 26. He subsequently developed shortness of breath on February 28 and attended the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment. He had passed away on the same day.
The DH has immediately contacted the HA upon the notification to obtain further information on the incident for conducting investigation and evaluation. At the moment, the causal relationship with the vaccination could not be ascertained. According to the established mechanism, the DH will provide the case to the Expert Committee on Clinical Events Assessment Following COVID-19 Immunisation for conducting causality assessment as soon as possible, and the assessment result will be released in a timely manner.