In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (December 27) for people in need of the service.
  
     The temporary shelters will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (December 28) when the Cold Weather Warning is still in force.
 
     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.
 
     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department's hotline 2572 8427 for more information.
 
     In light of the implementation of mandatory use of the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application when entering government premises, all persons are required to use the app to scan the venue QR code before they are allowed to enter temporary cold shelters, except for exempted persons (including persons who are aged below 12 or aged 65 or above, persons with disabilities that render use of the app difficult and persons without smartphones). All exempted persons are required to complete a prescribed form to register their personal particulars, contact phone number and the date and time of entry. The staff will verify the information provided.
 
     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:
 
Hong Kong Island:
——————–
 
Central and Western:
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun
 
Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay
 
Southern:
Wah Kwai Community Centre
Wah Kwai Estate, Kellett Bay
 
Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai
 
Kowloon:
——————
 
Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom
 
Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin
 
Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po
 
Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan
 
Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei
 
New Territories:
—————-
 
Islands:
Tung Chung North Park (Zone B) Activity Room
29 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung
 
Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung
 
North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling
 
Sai Kung:
Chi Shin Activity Centre
G/F, Tseung Kwan O South Ancillary Facilities Block
5 Chi Shin Street, Tseung Kwan O
 
Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin
 
Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po
 
Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan
 
Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun
 
Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (December 27), no COVID-19 confirmed patient was discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 12 189 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged.
      
     A total of 152 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and the Hospital Authority (HA) Infectious Disease Centre. Among those patients, one is in serious condition (case number: 12431) while the remainder are in stable condition.
      
     The HA will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.
 

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, December 27, the CHP was investigating nine additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 599 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 598 confirmed cases and one probable case).
      
     The newly reported cases are imported cases. All of them involved mutant strains. The patients comprise five males and four females, aged 19 to 59. Five of them arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk) with enhanced surveillance and four from Group A specified places (high-risk). Four patients tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) at Hong Kong International Airport and two tested positive during quarantine. Case 12602 is a close contact of an imported case confirmed previously (case 12586) while cases 12603 and 12604 are close contacts of another imported case confirmed previously (case 12568). All three patients tested positive at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre. 
      
     Among the above-mentioned cases, case 12602 involves a 42-year-old female patient who is a local aircrew. She lives at Tower 7, Phase 1, Park Avenue, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Mong Kok. She departed Hong Kong on December 22 for Australia, after she tested negative on December 21. She is a co-worker of an imported case confirmed earlier (case 12586) and both arrived in Hong Kong on December 24 from Australia by flight CX138. Her specimen collected upon arrival in the TSCC tested negative but her sample tested positive on December 25 during quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre. She is asymptomatic and her specimen carried the N501Y and T478K mutant strains. As a prudent measure, the places where the case resided or visited in Hong Kong during the incubation periods have been included in a compulsory testing notice (CTN). Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date.

     A total of 101 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (December 13 to 26). One of them is an import-related case, while the rest are imported cases.
 
     Furthermore, the CHP is investigating a case of COVID-19 confirmed in Shanghai involving a 26-year-old male patient who lives at Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East. He travelled to Shanghai on December 19 by flight MU508. He developed symptoms on December 22 and tested positive in Shanghai on December 24. He received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (CoronaVac) in the Mainland on May 13 and June 27. The places where the patient resided, worked and visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a CTN.
 
     Meanwhile, the whole genome sequencing analysis of cases announced earlier conducted by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed that cases 12558, 12559, 12560, 12561, 12562, 12565, 12568, 12569, 12570, 12571, 12572, 12575, 12576 and 12577 all carried the Variant of Concern Omicron. These cases involved eight males and six females, aged 20 to 80 years old. Nine of them tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the TSCC while five tested positive during quarantine. 

     â€‹Together with the aforementioned cases, there are so far 58 cases involving Omicron in Hong Kong. 

     According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local COVID-19 cases with mutant strains, the CHP reminded that persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).

     Specified persons in relation to the following specified premises are also reminded to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the CTN tomorrow (December 28):

• Cheung Hing Building, 44-48 Pitt Street, Yau Ma Tei
• Block 18A, Serenity Villa, 230A Tai Po Tau, Tai Po
• G/F-1/F, 392 Ho Pui Tsuen, Pat Heung, Yuen Long

     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).

     â€‹â€‹The spokesman for the CHP stressed, "The global situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility, and there are also reports of breakthrough infections in some vaccinated individuals. The CHP strongly urges members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, in particular to specified places with high risk under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)."

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) announced that as of 0.00am, December 27, the CHP was investigating nine additional confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), taking the number of cases to 12 599 in Hong Kong so far (comprising 12 598 confirmed cases and one probable case).

     The newly reported cases are imported cases. All of them involved mutant strains. The patients comprise five males and four females, aged 19 to 59. Five of them arrived in Hong Kong from a Group A specified place (high-risk) with enhanced surveillance and four from Group A specified places (high-risk). Four patients tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) at Hong Kong International Airport and two tested positive during quarantine. Case 12602 is a close contact of an imported case confirmed previously (case 12586) while cases 12603 and 12604 are close contacts of another imported case confirmed previously (case 12568). All three patients tested positive at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre.

     Among the above-mentioned cases, case 12602 involves a 42-year-old female patient who is a local aircrew. She lives at Tower 7, Phase 1, Park Avenue, 18 Hoi Ting Road, Mong Kok. She departed Hong Kong on December 22 for Australia, after she tested negative on December 21. She is a co-worker of an imported case confirmed earlier (case 12586) and both arrived in Hong Kong on December 24 from Australia by flight CX138. Her specimen collected upon arrival in the TSCC tested negative but her sample tested positive on December 25 during quarantine at the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre. She is asymptomatic and her specimen carried the N501Y and T478K mutant strains. As a prudent measure, the places where the case resided or visited in Hong Kong during the incubation periods have been included in a compulsory testing notice (CTN). Specified persons who were present at the relevant venues at specified periods need to undergo compulsory testing on the specified date.
 
     A total of 101 cases have been reported in the past 14 days (December 13 to 26). One of them is an import-related case, while the rest are imported cases.
 
     Furthermore, the CHP is investigating a case of COVID-19 confirmed in Shanghai involving a 26-year-old male patient who lives at Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Kowloon East. He travelled to Shanghai on December 19 by flight MU508. The latest epidemiological investigation reveals that he is asymptomatic and his sample taken in Shanghai on December 22 tested positive. The case was confirmed there on December 24. He received two doses of COVID-19 vaccination (CoronaVac) in the Mainland on May 13 and June 27. The places where the patient resided, worked and visited in Hong Kong during the incubation period have been included in a CTN.
 
     Meanwhile, the whole genome sequencing analysis of cases announced earlier conducted by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch confirmed that cases 12558, 12559, 12560, 12561, 12562, 12565, 12568, 12569, 12570, 12571, 12572, 12575, 12576 and 12577 all carried the Variant of Concern Omicron. These cases involved eight males and six females, aged 20 to 80 years old. Nine of them tested positive during the "test-and-hold" arrangement upon arrival at the TSCC while five tested positive during quarantine.
 
     â€‹Together with the aforementioned cases, there are so far 58 cases involving Omicron in Hong Kong.
 
     According to the testing and quarantine arrangements for local COVID-19 cases with mutant strains, the CHP reminded that persons who resided or worked within the same building as the residence of relevant cases will be subject to compulsory testing on specified dates in accordance with the announcement by the DH. They will also be required to undergo self-monitoring until the 21st day (see the details of the buildings and dates of testing at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/CTN_Specified_premises_and_Dates_of_Testing.pdf).
 
     Specified persons in relation to the following specified premises are also reminded to undergo compulsory testing in accordance with the CTN tomorrow (December 28):
     •Cheung Hing Building, 44-48 Pitt Street, Yau Ma Tei
     •Block 18A, Serenity Villa, 230A Tai Po Tau, Tai Po
     •G/F-1/F, 392 Ho Pui Tsuen, Pat Heung, Yuen Long
 
     The CHP's epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing. For case details and contact tracing information, please see the Annex or the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk).
 
     â€‹â€‹The spokesman for the CHP stressed, "The global situation of COVID-19 infection remains severe and there is a continuous increase in the number of cases involving mutant strains that carry higher transmissibility, and there are also reports of breakthrough infections in some vaccinated individuals. The CHP strongly urges members of the public to avoid all non-essential travel outside Hong Kong, in particular to specified places with high risk under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances and Travellers) Regulation (Cap. 599H)."

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, the Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Mr Henry Fan and the HA Chief Executive, Dr Tony Ko, visited the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and the HA Infectious Disease Centre located at Princess Margaret Hospital today (December 27) on the anti-epidemic works for COVID-19 and winter surge. 

     Mr Fan said, "There are more than 150 COVID-19 confirmed patients hospitalised in the two designated isolation facilities, alongside the high attendance of all public hospitals during the winter surge. We expressed our heartfelt appreciation to the healthcare workers who have stayed on duty during the festive season and worked very hard to treat patients, devoting themselves to the anti-epidemic works."

     Dr Ko added that the HA has enhanced preparation for the epidemic. He appealed to members of the public who have not yet vaccinated should grasp the opportunity for vaccination as soon as possible. Vaccinated people should consider taking a booster dose at appropriate time to reduce the risk of infection or developing severe symptoms if infected. Dr Ko also appealed to members of the public with mild illnesses to make better use of the services of general outpatient clinics and general practitioners after the long holiday to avoid the long wait at Accident and Emergency Departments.