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 20 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.

     19 buildings fulfilling the above criteria will be included in the compulsory testing notice.  In addition, since a student of Sir Ellis Kadoorie Secondary School (West Kowloon), 22 Hoi Fan Road, Yau Tsim Mong was confirmed positive, staff and students attending that school have to undergo compulsory testing.

     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 15 to February 28, 2021 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers), have to undergo testing by March 2, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between February 26 and February 28, 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 15 to February 28, 2021, have to undergo testing by March 2, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between February 26 and February 28, 2021, they would be taken to have complied with the requirements set out in the compulsory testing notice.

3. Any person who had been engaged to work or had been on duty (including full-time, part-time and relief staff) or students who had studied at any specified premises listed in Part C of Annex 1 at any time during the period from February 15 to February 28, 2021, have to undergo testing by March 2, 2021. If persons subject to compulsory testing have previously undergone testing between February 26 and February 28, 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 1) for local residents and workers subject to compulsory testing:
　　· Hing Wah (II) Estate, Chai Wan
　　· On Tai Estate, Kwun Tong
　　· Shell Plaza, Park Island, Ma Wan
　　· Yau Oi Estate, Tuen Mun
 
     The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Edinburgh Place in Central and Sau Mau Ping Community Hall will be extended to March 2 (Tuesday), and that of the stations at Maple Street Playground in Sham Shui Po and Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan will be extended to March 4 (Thursday) and March 7 (Sunday) respectively. 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."

     Under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme which started on February 26, a total of about 7 000 persons today (February 28) received their first doses of the vaccine. Since February 22, a cumulative total of over 20 000 persons have been vaccinated.

     "Getting vaccinated can not only protect oneself, but also family members and friends, and will help reduce the risk of a community outbreak. We call on citizens in the five priority groups to get vaccinated early so that our economy and way of life could return to normal as soon as possible," a Government spokesman said.

     â€‹In response to media enquiries on booking for vaccination under the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, a government spokesman said today (February 28) that when booking commences again at 9am tomorrow (March 1), members of the public can make reservation for vaccination of the Sinovac vaccine at the eight Community Vaccination Centres (CVCs) and the 18 general out-patient clinics of the Hospital Authority for the period until March 28. (A list of the eight CVCs is at the Annex).

     For the Comirnaty vaccine, online booking for vaccination will open by the middle of this week. Detailed arrangements will be announced shortly.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for the Hospital Authority (HA) announced the following update today (February 28) regarding a staff member of the Information Technology and Health Informatics Division of HA Head Office (HAHO) being confirmed of COVID-19 infection:
 
     One more administrative staff of the Information Technology and Health Informatics Division of HAHO was tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. He works in the adjacent office on the same floor of the staff member confirmed with infection earlier.
 
     The first confirmed staff member was tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19 on February 23. More than 50 staff members working on the same floor were required to conduct viral tests including the staff member tested preliminarily positive today. His test result was negative then.
 
     He presented with sore throat and muscle pain and was tested again on February 26. The result was preliminarily positive yesterday.
 
     All staff members of the Information Technology and Health Informatics Division working on the first floor Block R of Kowloon Hospital will be quarantined. Those who work on the ground floor of Block R are required to take the tests and work from home. Thorough cleaning and disinfection have been completed earlier on the office concerned located in Block R and will be conducted again. The HA will continue to closely monitor the health condition of other staff members and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on latest progress.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for the Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) made the following announcement today (February 28) regarding a Patient Care Assistant (PCA) who has tested positive for COVID-19:
 
     A PCA working in a medical ward in Tseung Kwan O Hospital was arranged to undergo COVID-19 test as her family member was tested positive for COVID-19 and the test result was positive yesterday night. She will receive isolation treatment and is now in stable condition.
 
     Hospital infection control team has conducted contact tracing. The staff is mainly responsible for patient care. She does not perform any high-risk clinical procedures and equips with appropriate personal protective equipment at work. No patients were identified as close contact. Eight staff members who had meal or stayed in the same room overnight with the PCA concerned were identified as close contacts and would be quarantined. As a precautionary measure, the hospital has arranged viral tests for the staff and patients of the ward concerned. So far all results available are negative.
 
     The ward concerned has suspended admission and thorough cleansing and disinfection have been conducted. The hospital will continue to closely monitor the health condition of staff and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.