Senior technical officer of Housing Department tests positive for COVID-19

     The Housing Department today (July 16) learnt that a senior technical officer has tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
 
     The officer works on the seventh floor of Block 3 at the Hong Kong Housing Authority Headquarters in Ho Man Tin. The floor concerned is not a public floor and is not open to the public. He last performed duties on July 13. Since his family member was identified as a close contact of a confirmed case, he was tested for COVID-19 in a private clinic on his own accord and preliminarily tested positive for the disease, and he was then admitted to hospital. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) today advised that he tested positive.

     The officer concerned has no recent travel history. He has been wearing facial masks when performing duties, his body temperature was normal and he followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. The department will continue to closely co-operate with the CHP on disease prevention measures. The workplace of the officer concerned, including the common areas, has been fully cleaned and sterilised in accordance with the guidelines of the CHP.
 
     During the pandemic, the department has been strictly implementing various disease prevention measures, including measuring the body temperature of people entering the buildings, providing facial masks and other personal protective equipment for staff, and requesting staff to wear facial masks when in contact with others and at public places. Cleaning and sterilising measures of the working environment of the department have also been stepped up.
 
     The department will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP and co-operate with its quarantine work.