Police call on public to comply with isolation order to combat the epidemic

     Police today (March 7) noted that Police were fully supporting the Government to combat the fifth wave of the epidemic and called on members of the public to fight against the virus together by complying with the “isolation order”.

     The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap.599J) to make  “restriction-testing declaration”, under which people within the specific “restricted area” are 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.  

     To prevent the spread of the disease in the community, the public health authority will issue “isolation order” to residents in “restricted areas” who are tested positive for COVID-19. As one of the law enforcers, Police will assist the public health authority to implement the “isolation order”.

     According to the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinance (Cap. 599), relevant public officer is authorised to send relevant confirmed patients to community isolation facilities. If the individual refuses to co-operate, he/she may commit the offence of obstructing public officers and is subject to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for two months. If a confirmed patient leaves the isolation site during the quarantine period, he/she is also subject to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for six months.

     To combat the raging epidemic, members of the public should strictly comply with the law in order to reduce the risk of virus transmission. To prevail over the epidemic, every citizen’s effort and support is of utmost importance.