Starting from tomorrow (February 8), the Department of Health (DH) will issue quarantine orders to all people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland, including Hong Kong residents, Mainland residents and visitors from other places. People concerned shall stay at home or other accommodation for a 14-day compulsory quarantine.
Despite those exempted under the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation, people who have been to the Mainland in the past 14 days preceding arrival at Hong Kong, even if they enter Hong Kong via other places, are covered. They have not developed any symptoms and passed temperature checks upon entry. Those with symptoms will be referred to the DH for further handling. Arrivals holding a visa with validity of less than 14 days will be denied entry.
In general, Hong Kong residents will stay at home for quarantine. For non Hong Kong residents who have arranged to stay at hotels or other dwelling places, they will conduct quarantine at the concerned hotels or dwelling places. If persons under compulsory quarantine are not able to arrange accommodation, they will conduct quarantine at temporary accommodation provided by the Government.
The risk of the abovementioned type of persons requiring quarantine is relatively low. They are not the close contacts of the confirmed cases or those who have visited Hubei within 14 days, and do not have any symptoms. Therefore, they can conduct compulsory quarantine at home or the dwelling places for 14 days. Their family members are not required to conduct compulsory quarantine.
Persons under quarantine have to stay at home or the dwelling places all day and wear masks. They are prohibited to leave Hong Kong. Persons under quarantine and those living with them have to check their body temperature every day and monitor their health condition. If they have fever or develop other symptoms, they have to inform the Centre for Health Protection about their health condition via dedicated hotline. After assessment, they will be sent to hospitals for treatment when necessary.
During the quarantine period, those living with the persons under quarantine can supply them with food and necessities daily. The Home Affairs Department will also provide them with a hotline for enquiries. If the persons under quarantine are genuinely incapable of arranging their daily necessities, the Social Welfare Department will provide assistance.
The Government has to emphasise that self-discipline and community solidarity in fighting against the disease are of upmost importance. Any person concerned who leave the dwelling places without permission may commit a criminal offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is imprisonment for six months and a fine of $25,000. The Government will ensure the persons under compulsory quarantine stay at homes by spot checks and telephone calls, etc.
To ensure that the freight between Hong Kong and the Mainland would not be affected, the Government will exempt people in the relevant businesses and work who need to frequent between the two places. Categories of persons who are exempted from the compulsory quarantine requirement for 14 days are clearly stipulated in the Compulsory Quarantine of Certain Persons Arriving at Hong Kong Regulation under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Public Health Emergency) Regulation.
The DH will arrange medical surveillance for persons under the above exempted categories during their stay in Hong Kong. Persons under medical surveillance are required to wear masks and check temperature daily for reporting to the DH. In addition, exempted persons are also subject to the temperature check and health declaration procedures carried out by the DH at various boundary control points during arrival and departure clearance.
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