The Government announced on February 7 that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Drainage Services Department in collaboration with the cross-disciplinary team of the University of Hong Kong had strengthened the sampling of sewage for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in many areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.

Compulsory testing
 
     In response to the positive sewage testing results in Wong Tai Sin, Kwun Tong and Kowloon City, the Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and publishes in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice, requiring any person who had been present at the following specified premises (see Annex) during the specified period to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Wong Tai Sin Tsz Hong Estate 03 (TH-03) – Hong Kin House, Hong Sau House, Hong Tak House, Hong Yun House and Hong Tim House, Tsz Hong Estate, Wong Tai Sin
• Sewage Testing Area Wong Tai Sin 008 (WTS-008) – Area around 20-64 Ming Fung Street (Even Numbers), Fung Wong Mansion, 1-68 Tsui Fung Street, Shatin Pass Road and Shatin Pass Estate, Wong Tai Sin
• Sewage Testing Area Wong Tai Sin 041 (WTS-041) – Lok Shun House and Lok Yan House, Tsz Lok Estate (Phase 2), Tsz Wan Shan
• Sewage Testing Area Kwun Tong Yau Lai Estate 07 (YLE-07) – Fung Lai House, Yau Lai Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Kowloon City Tak Long Estate 01 (TLE-01) – Tak Yiu House, Tak Loong House and Tak Ying House, Tak Long Estate

     The Government strongly reminds members of the public to strictly follow the compulsory testing requirements and undergo testing on time as required. The above compulsory testing requirement applies to those who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course as well. They are advised to closely monitor their health conditions. They should seek medical attention and undergo testing even if they have only mild symptoms.
 
     Details of the compulsory testing notice are available on the website of the Centre for Health Protection, the Department of Health, via www.chp.gov.hk/en/features/105294.html.

Rapid test

     As regards positive sewage testing results in Wong Tai Sin, Sham Shui Po, Sai Kung, Kwun Tong and Yuen Long, the Home Affairs Department (including Wong Tai Sin, Sham Shui Po and Sai Kung District Offices) will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to residents and all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas (see Annex) starting from today (February 8) for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons –
 

• Sewage Testing Area Wong Tai Sin 002 (WTS-002) – Area around 117-165 Po Kong Village Road, 1-59 and 6-30 Yuk Wah Crescent, and 40-80A Yuk Wah Street, Wong Tai Sin
• Sewage Testing Area Sham Shui Po 103 (SSP-103) – Fu Sing House, Fu Leung House, Fu Loy House, Fu Hoi House and Fu Yee House, Fu Cheong Estate, Sham Shui Po
• Sewage Testing Area Sai Kung 3A (SK Site 3A) – Area around Pak Kong, Sai Kung Town Centre, and Tui Min Hoi

      In addition, the Home Affairs Department (including Kwun Tong and Yuen Long District Offices) will distribute three sets of COVID-19 rapid test kits to all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the following areas (see Annex) through the Hong Kong Property Services Alliance and the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identifying infected persons. The Government appeals to residents and those working in these areas who have been exposed to infection risks to undergo testing on a voluntary basis to achieve "early identification, early isolation and early treatment" -
 

• Sewage Testing Area Kwun Tong Yau Lai Estate 05 (YLE-05) – Yung Lai House and Cheuk Lai House, Yau Lai Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Kwun Tong Yau Lai Estate 04 (YLE-04) – Nga Lai House, Yi Lai House, Yat Lai House, Sau Lai House, Bik Lai House and Chi Lai House, Yau Lai Estate
• Sewage Testing Area Yuen Long 2 (YL Site 2) – Area around Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

     Residents may refer to (www.youtube.com/watch?v=w81mttDX9qE) for enquiries relating to the use of the rapid test kits.
    
     When positive result (including vaguely positive with a faint band showing on the test kit) is obtained, one should immediately seek medical attention for follow up management. Residents tested positive should stay home as far as possible to avoid spreading the virus in the community. The Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the compulsory testing requirement. Individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, who have visited places with epidemic outbreaks or have had contact with persons tested positive, etc, should undergo testing promptly at testing centres.

    In addition, the EPD has uploaded the boundary of places with compulsory testing notice issued due to the sewage samples tested positive and related information to the dashboard of the thematic website "Together, We Fight the Virus", to facilitate the reference from the public, via
https://chp-dashboard.geodata.gov.hk/covid-19/en.html. 

Ends/Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Issued at HKT 0:43

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