The Correctional Services Department (CSD) announced today (February 17) that Sha Tsui Correctional Institution on Lantau Island is being temporarily used as a CSD isolation facility in response to the latest situation of COVID-19.

     In view of the recent emergence of confirmed cases of persons in custody (PICs) in individual correctional institutions, with a total of seven PICs testing positive for COVID-19 since February 8, the CSD has vacated Cape Collinson Correctional Institution in Chai Wan (previously used as a scenario training venue for staff) for use as a temporary isolation facility since February 13 to centrally manage the aforesaid confirmed PICs pending further arrangements by the Centre for Health Protection. To cope with the possible rapid changes of the epidemic situation in the correctional facilities in a short period of time, the department has taken another contingency measure by vacating Sha Tsui Correctional Institution for use as another temporary isolation facility to manage possible increasing numbers of relevant PICs. The Department has already transferred the PICs of Sha Tsui Correctional Institution to Tong Fuk Correctional Institution.

     The CSD has been taking various measures to prevent the spread of the virus in correctional institutions, including requiring staff on duty and PICs to take body temperatures and wear masks, conducting cleaning and disinfection at all locations in the institutions continuously, and changing the routine of the institutions by implementing a "holiday routine" (the "lock-up routine" will be implemented if the situation deteriorates) to prevent the spread of the virus by reducing the flow of people and contacts.

     The department is now arranging thorough COVID-19 testing for all staff and PICs, and has prepared sufficient rapid test kits for staff on duty and PICs in need, with a view to detecting silent transmission chains in the institutions as early as possible to achieve the goals of early identification, early isolation and early termination.

Ends/Thursday, February 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 12:45

NNNN