Government enforces "restriction-testing declaration" and compulsory testing notice in respect of specified "restricted area" in Block 1, Melody Garden, Tuen Mun
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In addition, the Government issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from June 10 to June 16, 2022 to undergo compulsory testing on or before June 18, 2022 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 8am today (June 17) 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 8am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Tuen Mun who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results 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 11pm yesterday. About 679 people within the area had undergone testing. Amongst them, three tested positive case was found. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will arrange to follow up.
The Government provided food packs for persons subject to compulsory testing to facilitate their meal arrangements. Anti-epidemic proprietary Chinese medicines donated by the Central Government or procured with the co-ordination of the Central People's Government and rapid antigen test kits were also distributed to persons subject to compulsory testing to help them fight against the virus.
Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 224 households in the “restricted area”, among which 19 households did not answer the door. The Government will take measures to follow up.
The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result as proof of having undergone testing breaches the compulsory testing notice and may be liable to a fine of $10,000. 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 at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months.
Ends/Friday, June 17, 2022
Issued at HKT 8:33
Issued at HKT 8:33
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