The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (December 8) said that a staff member from its home quarantine taskforce has preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
 
     The staff member is a Senior Ambulanceman working part-time in the home quarantine taskforce and is a close contact of the three other staff members from the taskforce who tested positive earlier, having worked together with them on the fourth floor of the CHP Building. He developed symptoms on December 5. The staff member is responsible for answering calls and enquiries from persons under home quarantine and hotel quarantine. He does not have contact with members of the public during his daily work at the taskforce and last performed his duties on December 4. He wore surgical masks while performing duties and properly maintained social distancing with people he had contacted. His body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening during work.
 
     The staff member had transported a close contact of a confirmed case when discharging his full-time work as a Senior Ambulanceman on November 23. 
 
     Epidemiological investigations on the cases by the CHP are ongoing. Thorough cleaning and disinfection operations have already been conducted at the workplace concerned. Quarantine and testing arrangements have also been made for colleagues working with the officers in the same room.

Ends/Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Issued at HKT 18:30

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