The Government yesterday (February 9) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 7pm yesterday, by which people within the specified "restricted area" in To Kwa Wan (i.e. Kiu Yu Mansion, 86-94H Lok Shan Road, and Kiu Fat Mansion, 96-106J Lok Shan Road, To Kwa Wan) 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 area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, the Government had issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the buildings for more than two hours from January 27 to February 9, 2021, to undergo compulsory testing before February 11 even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect. The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 7.15am today (February 10) and is now carrying out enforcement actions in the "restricted area" to verify that all people in the "restricted area" have undergone compulsory testing. The Government will further announce the revocation time of the declaration.
 
     Starting from around 7.15am today, persons in the "restricted area" in To Kwa Wan who have undergone testing in accordance to the requirements of the relevant declaration and compulsory testing notice, as well as are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.
 
     The Government set up temporary specimen collection stations in the "restricted area" yesterday and requested persons subject to compulsory testing to collect combined nasal and throat swab samples at the stations to undergo a COVID-19 virus test before 2am today. As at 2am today, around 1 700 residents had undergone testing. The test results of a small number of specimens are still undergoing the verification process.
 
     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 645 households, 37 households did not answer the door. Those may include some vacant units. The Government does not have detailed information in this respect and will take measures to follow up.
 
     The Government also understands that some residents already underwent testing at the mobile specimen collection stations set up in the district or by other means. Therefore, persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from February 7 to 9, 2021, and are able to provide the SMS notification through mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, are not required to take the test again.
 
     The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a negative test result or wear a wristband as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $5,000. The person will also be issued with a compulsory testing order, requiring him/her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender may be liable to a fine of level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

Ends/Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Issued at HKT 7:36

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