The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 18) reminded members of the public that "restriction-testing declarations" (RTDs) have been made for the residences of one case tested positive and three 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 case that tested positive (case 13059) and one case that tested preliminarily positive (a 73-year-old male) involve two members of a family who live in Ka Sing House, Ka Lung Court, Aberdeen. Case 13059 involves a 67-year-old female who visited Little Boss pet shop in Causeway Bay on January 8 and had contact with case 13047. Her 73-year-old family member living together developed symptoms on January 17 and he tested preliminarily positive after admission in hospital on the same day.
As case 13059 had contact with case 13047 at Little Boss pet shop in Causeway Bay, the CHP is now arranging all customers who had contact with case 13047 at the pet shop during the period from January 7 to 15 to undergo compulsory quarantine at a quarantine centre. About 140 transactions were involved. Also, with regard to the positive testing result for SARS-CoV-2 virus of some of the hamster samples taken by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department at the pet shop, the CHP is now following up with the shop and will contact relevant customers who have bought hamsters from that shop on or after January 7 as soon as possible to arrange them to undergo compulsory quarantine.
The second case that tested preliminarily positive involves a 26-year-old female living in 72-74 Broadway, Mei Foo Sun Chuen Phase 3, Lai Chi Kok. She worked as a teacher in Learning Habitat Kindergarten (Novum East) in Quarry Bay and last went to work on January 15. She developed symptoms since January 16 and consulted a private doctor on January 17. Her sample collected at a community testing centre on the same day tested preliminarily positive.
The third case that tested preliminarily positive involves a 16-year-old male living in Tower 1, Monterey Cove, Caribbean Coast Phase 1, Tung Chung. He studied in Delia Memorial School (Broadway), 80-86 Broadway, Mei Foo and is a classmate of case 13069 announced today. He had examination in the same classroom at the school with case 13069 from January 10 to 14. He developed symptoms on January 16 and attended the Accident and Emergency Department in a public hospital on January 17 and tested preliminarily positive on the same day.
The Government has made RTDs tonight for the buildings where the patients resided (Ka Sing House, Ka Lung Court, Aberdeen; 72-74 Broadway, Mei Foo Sun Chuen Phase 3, Lai Chi Kok; and Tower 1, Monterey Cove, Caribbean Coast Phase 1, Tung Chung) and persons who resided or worked at the buildings will be subject to increased compulsory testing frequency. The places where the patients 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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