The following press release is issued on behalf of the Independent Commission Against Corruption:

     The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) spokesperson noted that an Assistant Investigator of the Operations Department was yesterday (February 5) preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The case has yet to be confirmed by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) and further instructions are awaiting.

     The ICAC officer concerned worked at the ICAC Building in North Point and last went to the office on January 28. He had wore a mask and followed the relevant disease prevention measures at work. In the 14 days before his case was preliminarily confirmed, the officer had no contact with members of the public when carrying out his duties.

     In accordance with the CHP's guidelines, the ICAC has arranged thorough cleaning and disinfection of the area concerned at the ICAC Building. ICAC officers who had contacts with the officer concerned and those who worked on the same floor are undergoing COVID-19 testing. They will work from home while waiting for testing results. Staff redeployment has been made to ensure relevant services are not affected. 

     The ICAC has reminded all officers to pay attention to personal hygiene and reduce social contacts to minimise the risks of spreading COVID-19. Should they feel unwell, they should report the case and consult a doctor immediately.

     The ICAC will continue to strictly implement disease prevention measures during the epidemic, and will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP in taking appropriate follow-up actions.

     â€‹The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) today (February 6) said that a Workman I working at the Happy Valley Recreation Ground in Wan Chai District has preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).  The jogging track inside the Happy Valley Recreation Ground is closed until 7am tomorrow (February 7) for thorough cleaning and disinfection of the facilities.

     The staff member has no recent travel history and last worked in the office on January 30. She wore surgical masks and observe relevant infection control measures when performing duties. She had also maintained proper social distance with people she had contact with. The workman underwent a COVID-19 test earlier as there was a confirmed case at her residential building, and was notified that she had preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.

     The LCSD is arranging the co-workers of the workman to undergo COVID-19 testing. The department arranged thorough cleaning and sterilisation at her working area and the public utilities according to the guidelines of the Centre of 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 Government yesterday (February 5) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Sha Tin (i.e. Sun Yuet House and Sun Wai House, Sun Chui Estate, Sha Tin) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing were required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" had undergone testing and the test results were mostly ascertained.
 
     Moreover, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday, requiring persons who had been present at the above buildings for more than two hours from January 23 to February 5, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, to undergo compulsory testing on or before February 7. The Government announced the completion of the compulsory testing exercise at around 8.30am today (February 6) and carried out enforcement action in the "restricted area" afterwards to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone compulsory testing in accordance with the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice. The Government announced that the enforcement operation ended at around 10.30am today.
 
     In this exercise, the Housing Department, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office of the Department of Health mobilised around 295 staff to arrange for implementation of the declaration and enforcement actions for breaches of the compulsory testing notice issued earlier.
 
     The Government provided simple food for persons subject to compulsory testing, including canned food and instant noodles, so as to facilitate the dinner arrangements of some persons subject to compulsory testing.
 
     The Housing Department set up a hotline for people restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance.
 
     The Government thanks persons subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding. With everyone's co-operation and efforts, coupled with the tireless efforts of the testing contractor, residents have been informed about their testing results by SMS notification. After finishing the compulsory testing exercise at around 8.30am today, the Government took enforcement action in the "restricted area" immediately to verify that all people in the "restricted area" had undergone testing according to the requirements of the declaration and the compulsory testing notice. Persons who could present an SMS notification containing a negative test result as proof of having undergone the compulsory testing could leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer. The enforcement operation was completed at around 10.30am. Test records of 793 persons subject to compulsory testing were checked. Nobody was found to have not undergone testing. Taking into account the above situation, the Secretary for Food and Health revoked the "restriction-testing declaration" in accordance with Cap. 599J (see attachment).
 
     The Government reminded the 150 households who have not answered the door to contact the Government for arrangement of testing as soon as possible after reading the notices put up by the Government, in the hope of eliminating the possible risk of further spread of the virus in the community.
 
     The Government thanks all participating government staff and the testing agencies for their hard work. The Government is also grateful to those subject to compulsory testing for their support and understanding, and their full co-operation during this period in undergoing testing and waiting for the results at home.
 
     The Government will seriously follow up on the compliance situation of the compulsory testing notices and the "restriction-testing declaration" by persons subject to compulsory testing. Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

  

     The Government yesterday (February 5) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Sha Tin (i.e. Sun Yuet House and Sun Wai House, Sun Chui Estate, Sha Tin) were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained.

     In addition, for any person who had been present at the above buildings for more than two hours from January 23, 2022 to February 5, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, they must undergo compulsory testing on or before February 7, 2022.

     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8.30am today (February 6) and is now carrying out enforcement actions in the "restricted area" to verify that all people in the "restricted area" have undergone compulsory testing. The Government will further announce the revocation time of the declaration.

     Starting from around 8.30am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Sha Tin who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.

     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 12am today. A total of 3 871 persons had undergone testing. Three preliminary positive cases involving three households were found in Sun Yuet House (Low Block), eight preliminary positive cases involving one household were found in Sun Yuet House (High Block), no case was found in Sun Wai House (Low Block) and two preliminary positive cases involving two households were found in Sun Wai House (High Block). The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will take follow up action.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 1 528 households, among which 150 households did not answer the door. The Government will take measures to follow up.

     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result 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 "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

  

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     During the winter surge, the Hospital Authority closely monitors the service demand of Accident and Emergency Departments and the occupancy rates in public hospitals. Key service statistics are issued daily for public information. Details are in the appended table.