The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 13) reminded members of the public that "restriction-testing declaration" (RTD) have been made for the residences of two of the cases tested preliminarily positive for SARS-CoV-2 virus the CHP is following up. The CHP strongly reminds relevant residents that they must comply with the RTD operations. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him/her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the RTD is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.
The first case involves a 21-year-old female patient living in JC Place Tower 1, 345 Castle Peak Road – Castle Peak Bay, Tuen Mun. She is a part-time nurse who works at three clinics of JP Partners Medical in Tuen Mun (Gold Coast Piazza, Lin Wong Building, 2-14 Tak Ching Court, and New Town Mansion, Tuen Lee Street). She last went to work on January 11. She received testing arranged by JP Partners Medical on the same day and subsequently tested preliminarily positive. She has worked at the clinic at Gold Coast Piazza on January 3 when cases 12987 and 12988 sought medical attention there. She developed symptoms on January 12. She had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) on July 20 and August 10, 2021 in Hong Kong.
The second case involves a 22-year-old female patient living in Block 2, Hoi Tak Gardens, 13-17 Wing Fat Lane, Tuen Mun. She is a nurse who also works at the aforementioned three clinics of JP Partners Medical in Tuen Mun. She last went to work on January 12. Initial investigation revealed that she has not worked in the same clinic during the same period of time with the aforementioned 21-year-old female patient. She is asymptomatic and received testing arranged by her workplace on January 13 and tested preliminarily positive. She had received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (Comirnaty) on August 11 and September 1, 2021 in Hong Kong.
The CHP is now investigating the places where the patients visited during incubation periods and will carry out whole genome sequencing analysis in order to ascertain the infection sources and to terminate the silent transmission chains in the community. The CHP also urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk, to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.
The Government has made "restriction-testing declaration" tonight for the buildings where the patients resided (Tower 1, JC Place, 345 Castle Peak Road – Castle Peak Bay, Tuen Mun and Block 2, Hoi Tak Gardens, 13-17 Wing Fat Lane, Tuen Mun) and persons who resided or worked at the buildings will be subject to increased compulsory testing frequency. The places where they had visited during the incubation periods will also be included in a compulsory testing notice. Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date.
The spokesman for the CHP said, "The Government has remained vigilant and has been closely monitoring the latest scientific data on mutant strains as well as the epidemic situation of various places. The most stringent anti-epidemic measures will be implemented to prevent the mutant strains from spreading in the local community."
​At the moment, the adverse impact on the epidemic situation caused by the newly emerged mutant strains is not fully known yet, but vaccination is still essential to prevent severe cases and deaths from COVID-19 infection. The Government has launched the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. Members of the public are encouraged to get vaccinated. Details of the programme can be found at the designated website (www.covidvaccine.gov.hk).
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