â€‹The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, which requires any person who had been present at 65 specified places during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
     
     In view of a number of cases testing positive, 58 specified places are included in the compulsory testing notice. Furthermore, since some sewage samples collected in Sham Shui Po, Tin Shui Wai and Chai Wan have tested positive, seven specified premises are included in the compulsory testing notice. The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. Mobile specimen collection stations have been set up by the Government in different districts to facilitate testing to be conducted in compliance with the compulsory testing notice. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well.

     Persons who have tested positive in the past three months (including positive cases tested either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests (RATs) that have been self-declared to the DH) do not need to undergo compulsory testing. For those who are subject to compulsory testing (save for those who have declared their positive RAT results as mentioned above), they must undergo nucleic acid tests in accordance with relevant compulsory testing notices and cannot use RATs to fulfil the requirement of such notices. In other words, a negative RAT result cannot be deemed as fulfilling the compulsory testing requirement. Furthermore, unless a person subject to compulsory testing has obtained a medical certificate proving that he or she is unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons, the person cannot provide a deep throat saliva sample to fulfil the compulsory testing requirement.

     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the Centre for Health Protection (CHP)'s website via the following link: www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/ctn_20220726.pdf.

     If any persons test positive under compulsory testing, such positive cases will be handled in the same manner as in those identified through other nucleic acid tests or self-declared through RATs. Their isolation arrangements (as well as the quarantine arrangements of their household members) are no different from other positive cases.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing in accordance with a compulsory testing notice must go to any of the mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres (CTCs) or recognised local medical testing institutions to undergo professional swab sampling in fulfilling the requirements for compulsory testing. Young children may continue to undergo the test using a stool specimen. For details on obtaining stool specimen bottles, please refer to the COVID-19 thematic website: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/Stool_bottle_collection_points.pdf.

     If Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 3 or above, the Red or Black Rainstorm Warning Signal or the post-super typhoon "extreme conditions" announcement by the Government is in force at any time during the period for undergoing the compulsory testing, the period for undergoing the compulsory testing will be extended for one day.

     The Comirnaty and CoronaVac vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from COVID-19. They can provide protection to those vaccinated to prevent serious complications and even death after infection. The Government appeals to persons who are not yet vaccinated to get vaccinated without delay. The Government is working towards the goal of boosting the vaccination rates of children, teenagers and the elderly so that they can be protected by the vaccines as early as possible. Furthermore, the Scientific Committee on Vaccine Preventable Diseases and the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases under the CHP of the DH has earlier updated the consensus interim recommendations, and persons aged 60 or above who have taken three doses of vaccine are recommended to receive an additional dose (i.e. fourth dose) of either Comirnaty vaccine or CoronaVac vaccine at least three months after their last dose. Members of the public who are eligible should get the fourth dose as early as possible for better protection.

     CTCs provide testing services for the public. Booking and walk-in services are available. Members of the public only need to provide simple personal information on the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en). The system shows the booking status of the centres for the coming two weeks to facilitate the public's planning and selection of a suitable testing centre and a time slot for testing. The testing centres will accord priority to serve individuals with advance bookings. As of 6pm today (July 26), there was around 95 per cent availability for booking places for the coming two weeks. Members of the public may call the testing centres for enquiries on the availability of bookings or walk-in quotas before visiting the centres.
 
     The Government has set up additional mobile specimen collection station at Ap Lei Chau Estate, and will also reopen the mobile specimen collection stations at Lei Muk Shue Estate in Tsuen Wan and Cheung Ching Estate in Tsing Yi tomorrow (July 27). Separately, ticketing machines have been installed in a number of service points for on-site ticket arrangement. Members of the public who have obtained a ticket can visit the CTC website (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to check the real-time queueing ticket status. Booking service is also provided for some large-scale mobile specimen collection stations, and members of the public may use the 24-hour booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk/en) to reserve a suitable time slot for testing.
 
     Other than persons subject to compulsory testing, all members of the public may conduct free testing at CTCs or mobile specimen collection stations (if the service scope is applicable). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations are stated in the Annex.
 
     Outdoor mobile specimen collection stations will be closed if the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 or Red Rainstorm Warning Signal has been issued, while all mobile specimen collection stations together with all CTCs will be closed when Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 or above or the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is in force. Any changes in the arrangements of testing service will be announced on site, and members of the public may also pay attention to the relevant press releases.

     Persons subject to compulsory testing may choose to undergo testing via the following routes:

(a) For tests which require using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs
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 CTCs (see the list at www.communitytest.gov.hk/en);
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the 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), and the relevant sample must be taken through combined nasal and throat swabs; or
4. To use a specimen bottle distributed to the relevant specified premises by the CHP (if applicable), and return the specimen bottle with the stool sample collected as per relevant guidelines.

(b) For persons holding a medical certificate issued by a registered medical practitioner proving that they are unfit to undergo testing using a sample taken through combined nasal and throat swabs because of health reasons
1. To obtain a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from post offices, vending machines set up at MTR stations or designated general out-patient 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);
2. To undergo testing at any of the GOPCs of the Hospital Authority as instructed by a medical professional of the Hospital Authority; or
3. To self-arrange testing provided by private laboratories which are recognised by the DH and can issue SMS notifications in respect of test results.

     A Government spokesman cautioned that testing received at the Accident and Emergency Departments of the Hospital Authority, 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 CTCs."

     Persons subject to compulsory testing must keep the SMS notifications containing the result of the test and the relevant medical certificate (if applicable) for checking by a law enforcement officer when the officer requires the persons to provide information about their undergoing the specified test.

     Any enquiries on compulsory testing arrangements may be addressed to the hotline at 6275 6901, which operates daily from 9am to 6pm.

     The Government will continue to trace possibly infected persons who had been to 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 the maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months. The fixed penalty for discharging the liability is $10,000. The person may also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Any person in breach of the compulsory testing order would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.

     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 had contact with cases tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons."

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, visited Caritas Community Centre – Tsuen Wan today (July 26) to meet parents and students from grassroots families living in subdivided units and tap their views about the Government's work to alleviate poverty in a targeted manner, including how to help, through a pilot scheme, disadvantaged junior secondary school students to achieve upward social mobility.

     Mr Chan, accompanied by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, first received a briefing on the operation of Caritas Community Centre – Tsuen Wan by Caritas – Hong Kong's Assistant Chief Executive, Reverend Dominique Mukonda Kananga, Director of Social Work Services Division, Mr Frederick Lai, and other colleagues. The centre, supported by government subsidies, provides services such as supporting the development of grassroots groups (including subdivided unit households), improving their living conditions and running after-school care services. Mr Chan said he was pleased to learn that the centre is running different facilities such as a library, a self-study room, a kitchen, an activity room and a community hall for use by parents and students from grassroots families in poor living conditions (including subdivided units) to expand their living space.  

     Afterwards, Mr Chan chatted to parents and students from several grassroots families living in subdivided units to understand their living conditions as well as their views on how the current-term Government can support the development of students from grassroots families, such as providing more places for learning, language classes and extra-curricular activities. He also introduced to them the thinking of the scheme being formulated by the inter-bureau/department task force under his charge to help disadvantaged junior secondary school students (especially those living in subdivided units) to actively strive for upward social mobility when they grow up. He said he was pleased to learn about the participants' positive feedback on the scheme.  

     Mr Chan said, "The visit today has enabled us to better understand the front-line work of the social welfare sector in supporting grassroots groups and fostering their physical and mental development, as well as the thoughts of parents and students from grassroots families on how the current-term Government should press ahead with alleviating poverty in a targeted manner. The Government will continue to devise and enhance policies and measures to address poverty taking account of the circumstances and needs of various disadvantaged groups, particularly to support the young generation from grassroots families to work hard and be positive and self-reliant. 

     "In regard to disadvantaged junior secondary school students, especially those living in subdivided units, the task force being led by me is formulating at full steam a scheme to encompass three elements, namely mentorship, a personal development plan and financial support, to help the students broaden their horizons, reinforce their self-confidence, develop a positive outlook on life and set goals for their future. The first stage of the scheme will cater for 2 000 students and last a year. We will press ahead with collaboration between the Government, the business sector and the community, forging discussion with various stakeholders including business organisations, schools and social welfare organisations to draw on collective wisdom, with a view to announcing the scheme details within August. Recruitment of mentors and students will follow."

        

      The Government announced today (July 26) the gazettal of the extension of existing social distancing measures in accordance with the public health emergency regulations under the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance. The measures will be effective from July 28 to August 10.
 
      The number of daily new cases in Hong Kong remains high at four-digit figures with an on-going rising trend.  There have been signs of rebound in the viral load under sewage surveillance in various districts, and transmission of different new Omicron sub-lineages has been observed in the community.  The overall number of hospitalised patients is on a continuous rise along with the increase of caseload, with a marked surge in the number of serious or critical cases. Although the number of such cases in terms of proportion is relatively stable for the time being, the increase has already created pressure on the public healthcare services.  Balancing the needs for containing the epidemic and allowing social and economic activities, the Government decided to maintain the existing social distancing measures for the next 14-day cycle without making any relaxation.
 
      Relevant measures include allowing all catering premises and scheduled premises to continue to operate subject to strict compliance with the requirements including use of the Vaccine Pass and “LeaveHomeSafe”.  Other requirements, such as mask-wearing for citizens in transport carriers and specified public places, as well as prohibition of group gatherings in public places, also remain in force.  The Government will continue to monitor the epidemic trend and prudently consider the social distancing measures for the subsequent stage, with a view to effectively containing virus transmission without affecting the operation of society as far as practicable.
 
     Specific measures (see details of the restrictions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) in Annex 1) to be in force during the period from July 28 to August 10 include:
 
(I) Catering business
 
(1) From 0.00am to 4.59am every day, save for specific premises (see Annex 2), a person responsible for carrying on a catering business must continue to cease selling or supplying food or drink for consumption on the premises of the business, and close any premises or part of the premises (whichever is applicable) on which food or drink is sold or supplied by the business for consumption on the premises. The premises concerned may still sell or supply food and/or drink for takeaway services and deliveries. A person responsible for carrying on a catering business is also required to put up a notice at the entrance to the catering premises to remind patrons that food or drink should not be consumed in areas adjacent to the catering premises. All patrons who enter the bar/pub zone inside a catering premises must continue to present proof of a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result obtained within 24 hours before entering the relevant zone. Otherwise, they should be denied entry to the relevant zone. The maximum number of persons per table for catering premises will be eight, and banquets with no more than 120 persons will be allowed. Live performance and dancing activity will remain prohibited therein.
 
(2) Bars/pubs may open every day from 5am to 1.59am of the subsequent day with a maximum number of four persons per table and the total number of patrons capped at 75 per cent of their capacity. Live performance and dancing activity will remain prohibited therein. All patrons of bars/pubs must continue to present proof of a negative RAT result obtained within 24 hours before entering the relevant premises. Otherwise, they should be denied entry.
 
(3) Other requirements and restrictions on catering premises and bars/pubs will continue to remain in force, including that all patrons, when they are away from the table, must not consume food or drink and must wear a mask, and they must scan the “LeaveHomeSafe” venue QR code using the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application on their mobile phones/other mobile devices before entering the premises (excluding persons who only order takeaway). Operators of catering premises and bars/pubs are required to use the latest “QR Code Verification Scanner” mobile application provided by the Government to scan the QR code of a patron's vaccination record, medical exemption certificate or recovery record.
 
(II) Scheduled premises
 
(4) For swimming pools, sports premises, fitness centres, beauty parlours and massage establishments, places of public entertainment, places of amusement, amusement game centres, event premises, religious premises, barber shops/hair salons, bathhouses, party rooms, clubs/nightclubs, karaoke establishments, mahjong-tin kau premises and cruise ships, managers must comply with the relevant restrictions under Cap. 599F. In particular, live performance and dancing activity remain prohibited in clubs/nightclubs, and their patrons should continue to be denied entry unless they can present proof of a negative RAT result obtained within 24 hours before entering the relevant premises. Staff members and patrons alike must wear a mask at all times save for the exempted circumstances. Citizens are allowed not to wear masks when they are exercising in sports premises as well as fitness centres which meet the requirement on air change.
 
(5) For club-houses and hotels or guesthouses, managers must continue to comply with the relevant restrictions under Cap. 599F, and the catering premises, bars/pubs and scheduled premises therein must comply with all applicable requirements.
 
(6) For shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets and markets, the manager/person-in-charge must continue to comply with the relevant restrictions under Cap. 599F, including fulfilling the relevant requirements on use of “LeaveHomeSafe” and the Vaccine Pass under “passive checking”.
 
(7) The restriction on the number of persons allowed in premises such as cinemas, performance venues, museums, event premises and religious premises, etc, will remain at 85 per cent of their capacity. Patrons may eat and drink in cinema houses.
 
(III) Mask-wearing requirement
 
(8) The mandatory mask-wearing requirement under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) will be extended. A person must wear a mask all the time when the person is boarding or on board a public transport carrier, is entering or present in an MTR paid area, or is entering or present in a specified public place. Citizens are allowed not to wear masks if they are present in outdoor public places in country parks and special areas as defined in section 2 of the Country Parks Ordinance (Cap. 208), or are conducting strenuous physical activity (e.g. exercising or jogging) in outdoor public places.
 
(9) Under Cap. 599I, if a person does not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement, an authorised person may deny that person from boarding a public transport carrier or entering the area concerned, as well as require that person to wear a mask and disembark from the carrier or leave the said area. A person in contravention of the relevant provision commits an offence and the maximum penalty is a fine at level 3 ($10,000). In addition, authorised public officers may issue penalty notices to persons who do not wear a mask in accordance with the requirement and such persons may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty at $5,000.
 
(IV) Group gatherings
 
(10) Unless exempted, group gatherings of more than four persons in public places will remain prohibited. The requirement is also applicable to group gatherings in catering premises, bars/pubs and scheduled premises regulated under Cap. 599F in which the relevant requirements or restrictions are not complied with.
 
(11) Subject to relevant requirements, local group tours with no more than 30 persons may continue to be conducted. The relevant requirements include (i) relevant staff have received three doses of vaccine, and conducted an RAT on the same day before the commencement of local group tour activities, and (ii) all tour participants have fulfilled the prevailing Vaccine Pass requirements. If all tour participants have conducted an RAT on the same day of the tour before the commencement of local group tour activities, the relevant restriction on the number of participants will be relaxed to 100 persons.
 
(12) Any person who participates in a prohibited group gathering; organises a prohibited group gathering; owns, controls or operates the place of such a gathering; and knowingly allows the taking place of such a gathering commits an offence under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G). Offenders are liable to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months. Persons who participate in a prohibited group gathering may discharge liability for the offence by paying a fixed penalty at $5,000.
 
     A Government spokesman said, “Given the current signs of rebound in epidemic situation in Hong Kong, we urge all citizens to stay on guard by strictly observing social distancing measures and arranging the elderly and children to receive COVID-19 vaccine as early as possible.  This will help protect the health of themselves and their family members.”

     In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun, Tai Po and Yuen Long Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (July 26) that the Tsuen Wan District Office (TWDO), the Tuen Mun District Office (TMDO), the Tai Po District Office (TPDO) and the Yuen Long District Office (YLDO) have distributed a total of about 191 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.

     The TWDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Primrose Hill and The Rise for voluntary testing through the property management companies. The TWDO also distributed rapid test kits to households living in Yau Ma Hom Resite Village, Chung Kwai Chung Tsuen, Tai Pak Tin Village, Sheung Kwai Chung Village and Hoi Pa San Tsuen Section Two for voluntary testing through the Village Representatives.
      
     The TMDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Richland Garden and Melody Garden for voluntary testing through the property management companies.
      
     The TPDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in St Martin, The Horizon, Centra Horizon, Solaria, Mayfair By The Sea I, Mayfair By The Sea II, Providence Bay, ONTOLO, Providence Peak, The Graces．Providence Bay, Villa Castell, Deerhill Bay and San Uk Ka for voluntary testing through the property management companies, the owners' corporations, the owners' committees and the Village Representative.
      
     In addition, the YLDO commenced distributing rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Tin Chung Court, Vianni Cove, Wetland Seasons Park and Yuccie Square for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The HAD made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early.

     Members of the public may refer to the demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) via www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk to learn how to use the rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.

     Persons testing positive through an RAT should take a photo of the test result and declare the result within 24 hours via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If members of the public encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP under the DH will contact the relevant person later to complete the report procedure. There is no need to declare negative test results.

     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.

        

     The Government announced today (July 26) that one more hotel was engaged to join the eighth cycle of the Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) Scheme, bringing the number of hotels up to 68 to provide some 26 200 rooms in total.

     Newly joining the Scheme is Novotel Century Hong Kong in Wan Chai. Separately, Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel in Wong Chuk Hang will provide extra hotel rooms. The two hotels will start accepting room bookings from tomorrow (July 27) onwards. With the participation of a new hotel and the additional rooms provided by another hotel, the overall number of hotel rooms in the eighth cycle of the DQH Scheme has increased by around 700.

     The eighth cycle of the DQH Scheme will run from August 1 to October 31. The Government announced the list of the first batch of DQHs on June 16, followed by announcements of additional hotels on June 24 and July 12.

     The Government will continue to conduct assessment on other hotels' applications. Further announcement will be made when relevant work is completed.

     The Government will update regularly the list of DQHs and their booking status on the thematic website.