The Housing Department learned that an assistant housing manager had tested preliminarily positive today (February 5) for COVID-19.

     Residents of the building in which the assistant housing manager resides was subject to the Government's restriction-testing declaration. She has tested preliminarily positive today.

     She worked at Housing Department's Kowloon West and Sai Kung District Tenancy Management Office (5) at Carport Building of Tak Long Estate, Kowloon City. She last worked in the office on January 31. She did not have contact with the public recently while performing duties. She had been wearing masks and following relevant disease prevention measures at work. The office has been fully cleaned and sterilised in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). 

     The Housing Department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and co-operate with its disease prevention measures and quarantine work.

     The Government announced today (February 5) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.

Compulsory testing
 
     In response to the positive sewage testing results in Tuen Mun and Wong Tai Sin, 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, requiring any person who had been present at the following specified premises (see Annex) during the specified period to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Tuen Mun Site-046 (TM-046) – Block 1 & 2, Phase 1 in Tai Hing Garden
• Sewage Testing Area Wong Tai Sin-TTE5 – Yue Tung House, Tung Tau (II) Estate 
• Sewage Testing Area Wong Tai Sin-TTE1 – Kwai Tung House, Tung Tau (II) Estate 

     The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well. They are advised to closely monitor their health conditions. They should seek medical attention and undergo testing even if they have only mild symptoms.
 
     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the website of the Centre for Health Protection, the Department of Health, via www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105294.html .

Rapid test

     As regards positive sewage testing results in Kowloon City, Tai Po, Wan Chai and Central and Western District, the Home Affairs Department (including Kowloon City and Tai Po District Offices) will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents and all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas (see Annex) starting from tomorrow (February 6) for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Kowloon City Site-048 (KC-048) – Kai Ching Estate 
• Sewage Testing Area Tai Po Site-8A – Tai Po Tai Yuen Estate, Eightland Gardens, Jade Plaza, Treasure Garden and Mei Sun Building

      In addition, the Home Affairs Department (including Wan Chai, and Central and Western District Offices) will distribute three sets of COVID-19 rapid test kits to all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following area (see Annex) through the Hong Kong Property Services Alliance and the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons. The Government appeals to residents and those working in these areas who have been exposed to infection risks to undergo testing on a voluntary basis to achieve "early identification, early isolation and early treatment". 
 

• Sewage Testing Area Wan Chai Site-1A (Area around Peak Road, Magazine Gap Road, and Cotton Tree Drive)

     Residents may refer to (www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjLzD3-gab4) for enquiries relating to the use of the rapid test kits.

     If positive test result is shown on the test kit, medical attention should be sought at the Accident and Emergency Departments promptly to receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment at the earliest possible time. Residents tested positive should stay home as far as possible to avoid spreading the virus in the community. The Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the compulsory testing requirement. Individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, who have visited places with epidemic outbreaks or have had contact with persons tested positive, etc, should undergo testing promptly at testing centres.

     In addition, the EPD has uploaded the boundary of places with compulsory testing notice issued due to the sewage samples tested positive and related information to the dashboard of the thematic website "Together, We Fight the Virus", to facilitate the reference from the public, via chp-dashboard.geodata.gov.hk/covid-19/en.html.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (February 5) announced two preliminary positive COVID-19 cases detected via admission screening:

     An 81 year-old female patient was admitted to Accident and Emergency Department of Tseung Kwan O Hospital at around 7am this morning due to fever and cough and was sent to surveillance ward and was later confirmed preliminary positive to COVID-19. Hospital Infection Control Team conducted tracing accordingly, as a 47 year-old female patient in the same cubicle did not wear her surgical mask properly, she was identified as close contact and will be quarantined. All staff members working in the ward were required with appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with prevailing infection control guidelines. Therefore, none of the staff members are being classified as close contacts.

     In addition, a 52-year-old male patient was admitted to surveillance cubicle of Queen Mary Hospital to collect a deep throat saliva as admission screening on yesterday afternoon (February 4). The preliminary positive result was released at around 8.30pm. The patient was then transferred to an isolation ward for further management. One doctor, one phlebotomist and one student nurse attended the patient in that cubicle. They were not in appropriate PPE though no high-risk procedures were performed on the patient. As a precautionary consideration, they are temporarily suspended from clinical duty, infection control team has conducted contact tracing. No other staff or patient are classified as close contact so far.

     Thorough cleaning and disinfection have been performed in the cubicle and its operation remains normal.

     The hospitals will continue to communicate with the Centre for Health Protection on the latest situation.
 

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Hospital Authority today (February 5) announced that the following staff members are confirmed or preliminarily confirmed for COVID-19 infection due to their home or community contacts.

•     One operation assistant of Tuen Mun Hospital;
•     One locum nurse of Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital;
•     One phlebotomist of Prince of Wales Hospital; and
•     One operation assistant of Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals.

     All preliminarily confirmed staff members had been transferred to hospitals for treatment under isolation. Hospitals concerned have conducted contact tracing according to operation need and to arrange cleaning disinfection work. All related staff members had worn appropriate personal protective equipment. No patient has been identified as a close contact so far.

     Since some of the abovementioned staff had been eating and chatting with other staff members without wearing masks, two staff members had been identified as close contacts. They will be arranged to be quarantined and be tested as required. Seventeen staff members are classified as other contacts. The hospital will arrange testings for the staff concerned.

     In light of the deteriorating epidemic situation, the HA again reminds its staff to minimise social activities including cross-family gatherings and having meals with other staff members. Staff members should also wear appropriate personal protective equipment at work.
 

     A 55-year-old male police constable who is posted to the Marine North Division, preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. His family members preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 and he was arranged for COVID-19 test. He was preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 today (February 5). He has no travel history in the past 14 days. He wore face masks during his tour of duty. His last working day was January 30.

     Police are highly concerned and have the following messages:

     (1) While awaiting further assessment and recommendation by the Department of Health (DH), all police officers and civilian staff who might have been in contact with the officer concerned have been arranged to undergo COVID-19 test as instructed by the DH;

     (2) All facilities in the office concerned have been sterilised;

     (3) All officers have been reminded to reduce social contact to minimise risks of infection, and to pay attention to physical health. If feeling unwell, they should consult a doctor and report the case immediately;

     (4) Police will deploy resources flexibly to ensure provision of policing services of the areas concerned remains unaffected.

     Police will maintain close communication with the DH and provide assistance in tracing the pathology, by proactively providing information such as the duty record and roster of the officer concerned. Arrangements will be made for close contacts to be conveyed to quarantine centres to undergo quarantine.