The Government yesterday (February 5) 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, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Sha Tin (i.e. Sun Yuet House and Sun Wai House, Sun Chui Estate, Sha Tin) were 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 "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained.

     In addition, for any person who had been present at the above buildings for more than two hours from January 23, 2022 to February 5, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, they must undergo compulsory testing on or before February 7, 2022.

     The Government finished the compulsory testing exercise at around 8.30am today (February 6) 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 8.30am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Sha Tin 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 12am today. A total of 3 871 persons had undergone testing. Three preliminary positive cases involving three households were found in Sun Yuet House (Low Block), eight preliminary positive cases involving one household were found in Sun Yuet House (High Block), no case was found in Sun Wai House (Low Block) and two preliminary positive cases involving two households were found in Sun Wai House (High Block). The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will take follow up action.

     Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit 1 528 households, among which 150 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 $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/Sunday, February 6, 2022
Issued at HKT 12:00

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