Government’s response

     In response to media enquiries, a Government spokesman gave the following reply today (February 13): 

     We understand today that a staff member working in the Central Government Offices (CGO) was admitted to a hospital under the Hospital Authority (HA) and had undergone tests on novel coronavirus under the "Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance" scheme implemented by HA.    

     The test results have been confirmed to be negative for the above suspected case. This is hence not an infected case.   

     As the hospitalised staff has been working in CGO, we have in the first instance arranged to step up cleaning and disinfection for the relevant parts of the CGO premises in accordance with the guidelines and advice from the Centre for Health Protection (CHP). 

     We will continue to follow CHP's guidelines and take appropriate precautionary measures in CGO with a view to minimising the risk of contracting and spreading the novel coronavirus.