A female police communications officer preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19

     A 37-year-old female police communications officer who is posted to the Regional Command and Control Centre New Territories was preliminarily tested positive for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). She felt unwell on Tuesday (December 1) and sought medical treatment at a clinic. She was preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 today (December 3). The female police communications officer had no travel history over the past 14 days, and had not performed any duties that would require her to come into contact with members of the public. She last attended work on Monday (November 30).

     Police are highly concerned about the case and have the following messages for the public:

     1) While awaiting further assessment and recommendations from the Department of Health (DH), officers that might have come into close contact with the female police communications officer have been arranged to work from home and undergo tests for the virus;

     2) Police have deployed staff to clean and disinfect the premises where the female police communications officer works in;

     3) Police have reminded officers to maintain personal hygiene and reduce social contact to minimise the risk of infection. They should immediately report their cases and consult a doctor if they feel unwell;

     4) Since the onset of the pandemic, Police have been regularly deploying staff to disinfect and clean all public areas at the New Territories North Regional Headquarters for safeguarding public health; and

     5) Police will deploy resources flexibly to ensure the provision of emergency services remains unaffected.

     Police will liaise closely with the DH and proactively provide information such as the recent duty record and roster of the female police communications officer concerned. Arrangements will be made for close contacts to be conveyed to quarantine centres to undergo quarantine.