The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (January 12) said that an outsourced cleaning service contractor worker has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

     The outsourced cleaning worker concerned worked at Lok Fu Recreation Ground in Wong Tai Sin District. She last performed duties on January 10. She underwent a COVID-19 test earlier as there was a confirmed case at her residential building, and was notified today that she had tested positive for COVID-19.

     The cleaning worker concerned has no recent travel history. She wore surgical masks when performing duties, and her body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening during work.

     The LCSD will arrange thorough cleaning and sterilisation at Lok Fu Recreation Ground according to the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP).

     The LCSD is highly concerned about the COVID-19 epidemic and will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP. Staff are reminded to pay attention to personal hygiene and to stay vigilant. They should seek medical advice immediately if feeling unwell.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesman for Tuen Mun Hospital (TMH) made the following announcement today (January 12) regarding a patient who tested preliminarily positive to COVID-19:
 
     A 62-year-old male was admitted to a TMH Medicine and Geriatric (M&G) Ward on January 6. Admission screening of COVID-19 test was arranged for the patient and the result was negative. Since the patient was scheduled to undergo medical procedure in Queen Elizabeth Hospital soon after, he was arranged to take the viral test again yesterday (January 11) with one of the specimen tested weakly positive to COVID-19. The patient concerned has been transferred to an isolation ward with stable condition.
 
     Antibody testing was also arranged and the test result revealed the presence of antibody in this patient. Therefore, it is believed that the patient concerned might get infected before with low infectivity currently. He remains asymptomatic during hospitalisation.
 
     To enhance protection to patients and staff, the hospital infection control team conducted contact tracing according to the advice of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). 15 patients who had stayed in the same cubicle with the index patient are classified as close contacts and required to be quarantined for 14 days. Five of the patients have been discharged and will be followed up by CHP. At the same time, as a precautionary measure, COVID-19 tests will be arranged for staff and the remaining patients of the ward under medical surveillance. 
 
     A thorough cleaning and disinfection have been arranged. Patient admission in the ward concerned has already been suspended. TMH will continue to closely monitor the health condition of the staff members and patients, and communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest progress.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     Regarding an earlier announcement on three patient care assistants (PCA) in the out-patient clinic of the Occupational Therapy Department who tested positive for COVID-19, the spokesperson for Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) made the following update today (January 12):
 
     The hospital's infection control team has been constantly monitoring the health of staff members in the out-patient clinic of the Occupational Therapy Department and arranged COVID-19 tests for them. The viral test yesterday (January 11) found that one more occupational therapist was tested preliminarily positive. She has onset of mild sore throat on the same day.
 
     On January 8, the occupational therapist concerned worked in the workplace where a confirmed COVID-19 PCA had stayed in. She was tested negative for COVID-19 in the test arranged by the hospital on the same day.

     Upon knowing the preliminary positive results of the occupational therapist, the hospital's infection control team conducted contact tracing immediately. The occupational therapist concerned does not perform any high-risk clinical procedures and is equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment at work. No patient was hence identified as close contacts nor other contacts.
 
     In view of the sequential occurrence of confirmed cases in the out-patient clinic of the Occupational Therapy Department, the hospital's infection control team has expanded the scope of contact tracing. Staff who had meal or had stayed more than two hours cumulatively in the workplace concerned in the out-patient clinic of the Occupational Therapy Department would be classified as close contacts. Therefore, five more staff members are classified as close contacts and are required to quarantine for 14 days. The hospital will arrange viral tests for all staff members of the Occupational Therapy Department.
 
     The workplace concerned has been closed for thorough cleaning and disinfection. PMH will continue to closely monitor the health of our staff, as well as communicating with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.

     In response to media enquiries regarding property stamp duty matters that may arise from the Law Society of Hong Kong's intervention into the practice of Messrs Wong, Fung & Co, the Stamp Office of the Inland Revenue Department today (January 12) made the following response:
 
     "Although the Stamp Office does not have the discretion to extend the time limit for stamping property transaction instruments under the relevant law, if a duty payer's failure to arrange stamping of a property transaction instrument before the time limit is the result of the intervention, the Stamp Office is prepared to consider remission of penalty for late stamping. The duty payer can make an application directly or through the newly engaged solicitor to the Stamp Office.
 
     "If the duty payer is unable to raise funds to settle the stamp duty payable within a short period of time due to the freezing of relevant bank accounts of the law firm, an application can be made to the Stamp Office for instalment payment.
 
     "If the property transaction cannot be completed otherwise than by reason of re-sale or disposal of the property by the purchaser, the relevant agreement for sale is not chargeable with stamp duty. The duty payer can apply for refund of the stamp duty paid in respect of the relevant agreement within two years after the agreed date of completion of the transaction.
 
     "The Stamp Office has informed the Law Society of Hong Kong of the above arrangements, and is proactively reaching out to the intervention agent and affected duty payers to assist them in handling the relevant stamp duty matters. If the duty payers have any enquiries, they may contact the Stamp Office by the following means: Tel: 2594 3202; Fax: 2519 9025; email: taxsdo@ird.gov.hk."

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) made the following announcement today (January 12):
       
     Seven male patients (aged 28 to 93) in a medical ward have been confirmed to be carriers of Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter since December 16. Four patients and one patient are currently being treated under isolation at PWH and Shatin Hospital respectively in stable condition. One patient had been discharged while another patient had passed away earlier due to underlying disease.
 
     Following the activation of the Emergency Response Level in public hospitals, the visiting arrangement for the ward has been suspended. The following enhanced infection control measures have been adopted according to established guidelines:

1. Enhanced cleaning and disinfection of the ward concerned;
2. Application of stringent contact precautions and enhanced hand hygiene for staff and patients; and
3. Enhanced patient and environmental screening procedures.
 
     All other patients in the ward are under close medical surveillance. The cases have been reported to the Hospital Authority Head Office and the Centre for Health Protection for necessary follow-up.