The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (February 21) announced that in view of cases testing preliminarily positive for COVID-19 found to be related, for prudence's sake, Shek Tong Tsui Market, Shui Wo Street Market and Tsun Yip Cooked Food Market of the FEHD will be closed earlier today at 7pm, as well as all day tomorrow (February 22). Deep cleaning and disinfection will be conducted during the closure period so as to safeguard the health and safety of market and cooked food market (CFM) stall tenants and the public.

     A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The FEHD has cleaned and disinfected the areas where the persons concerned worked. Also, during the deep cleaning and disinfection period, the FEHD staff will thoroughly clean and disinfect communal areas and facilities in the markets and CFM, and call for co-operation of markets and CFM tenants to conduct cleaning and disinfection at their respective stalls. In addition, the FEHD will arrange street washing and disinfection in the vicinity of the markets and CFM."

     The FEHD will maintain liaison with tenants of the markets and CFM, and ask them to go to community testing centres for free testing as soon as possible or to conduct testing by using rapid antigen test kits, and obtain negative results before they return to the markets or CFM to work. If all goes well, the FEHD will reopen the markets and CFM on February 23 (Wednesday) after the completion of the deep cleaning and disinfection work.

     The spokesman said, "The FEHD attaches importance to the hygiene conditions of public markets, CFMs and cooked food centres (CFCs). In addition to regular cleaning work in the daytime, service contractors also conduct thorough cleaning in all markets, CFMs and CFCs after the venues are closed every day. With the assistance offered by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to the FEHD, we have completed a check on air change and installation of air purifiers according to needs in its markets, CFMs and CFCs in 2021; and are now following up with the installation of UVC sterilisers at escalator handrails, and the cleaning and disinfection of air-conditioning and exhaust systems at our markets, CFMs and CFCs."

     "During this epidemic period, the FEHD has already stepped up cleaning and disinfection of communal areas and facilities in the markets, CFMs and CFCs, including toilets, escalators, elevators and stair handrails, with diluted household bleach regularly every day. Disinfectant hand sanitisers are also provided in the markets, CFMs and CFCs for public use."

     The FEHD will continue to closely monitor the situation of each market, CFM and CFC, and will conduct deep cleaning and disinfection work in other markets, CFMs and CFCs if necessary so as to maintain environmental hygiene.

Ends/Monday, February 21, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:56

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