Hongkong Post said today (January 4) that a counter staff member of To Kwa Wan Post Office was preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19, and has been sent to the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo for medical treatment.
The counter staff member concerned last performed duty on December 31, 2020. His body temperature was normal during temperature screening at work. He has been wearing masks while on duty and working at the counter behind a partition to keep appropriate distance from customers. He felt unwell at night on December 31 and underwent COVID-19 testing on January 2, 2021. This morning he was notified by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of his preliminary positive result.
After learning about the case at around noon today, Hongkong Post immediately closed To Kwa Wan Post Office until January 5 for thorough cleaning and disinfection of all facilities and mail items in the office, pursuant to the guidelines set out by the CHP. Hongkong Post is rendering its full support to the CHP for its investigation and tracing effort, and instantly informed the 13 staff members on duty at To Kwa Wan Post Office for the past 14 days and has arranged for them to undergo COVID-19 testing. While awaiting the test results, the staff concerned will rest at home.
In view of the closure of To Kwa Wan Post Office, members of the public may use postal services at Gillies Avenue Post Office (G/F, 140 Gillies Avenue North, Hung Hom) nearby. Hongkong Post apologises for the inconvenience caused. For enquiries, the public may call the counter services hotline at 2525 5856 during office hours.
Hongkong Post has always attached great attention to the occupational health and safety of its staff by conducting body temperature screening for all front-line staff (including counter staff); providing them with protective gear such as face shields, protective goggles, masks, alcohol-based handrub, gloves and alcohol swabs; and requiring them to wear masks when performing duties and stepping up the cleaning of their working environment.
In addition, Hongkong Post has been implementing various measures on social distancing and infection prevention at all post offices throughout the epidemic, such as placing sterilisation mats at main entrances, checking body temperature for people entering post offices and requiring them to use alcohol-based handrub and wear masks, placing partitions on writing desks in the lobby and at service counters, and implementing crowd control arrangements. Hongkong Post has also applied a durable anti-microbial coating in all post offices (including post office box lobbies and public facilities) and put up signs at the entrances of individual post offices to keep its staff and the public informed of the effective period of the coating.
Hongkong Post will continue to maintain close liaison with the CHP. Staff members are also reminded to take note of their personal hygiene and stay vigilant at all times, and they are also advised to seek medical advice immediately in case of feeling unwell.
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