Government enforces "restriction-testing declaration" and compulsory testing notice in respect of specified "restricted area" in Ap Lei Chau (with photo)

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     The Government yesterday (April 23) 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 8.30pm yesterday, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Ap Lei Chau (i.e. Block 10 (Yee Lai Court), South Horizons, No. 10 South Horizon Drive, Ap Lei Chau) 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 area have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. In addition, the Government had issued a compulsory testing notice yesterday to any person who had been present at the buildings for more than two hours from April 10 to 23, 2021, to undergo compulsory testing on or before April 25 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 7.30am today (April 24) 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 7.30am today, persons in the "restricted area" in Ap Lei Chau who have undergone testing and are able to present SMS notifications with negative test results or wear wristbands as proof of having undergone testing may leave the "restricted area" through the designated exit after providing personal information to a prescribed officer.

     If a 2021 HKDSE candidate needs to leave the "restricted area" for the exam centre before the declaration is revoked, he/she can make a request to the prescribed officers in the "restricted area", regardless of whether the test result has been obtained or not. The prescribed officer may allow the candidate to leave the "restricted area" after verifying that the candidate has undergone testing as required and recording the relevant information of the candidate. Candidates who receive a negative test result on their way to the exam centres will be allowed to sit the exam as scheduled. For the safety of all candidates, only those candidates who have obtained negative results in the nucleic acid test will be allowed to enter the examination hall. For details, please read the relevant press release issued by the Education Bureau earlier: www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202104/01/P2021040100808.htm

          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 2am today. As at 2am today, around 950 residents had undergone testing. No confirmed cases were found.

          Moreover, the Government also assigned staff to visit around 330 households. Around 30 households did not answer the door. Those include some households with confirmed cases or those undergoing quarantine. Some units are possibly vacant as well. The Government does not have detailed information in this respect and will take measures to follow up.

          The Government also understands that some residents already underwent testing at the mobile specimen collection stations set up in the district or by other means. Therefore, persons in the "restricted area" who have undergone testing from April 21 to 23, 2021, and are able to provide the SMS notification through mobile phone or related certification containing the test results, are not required to take the test again.

          The Government reiterates that enforcement actions will be taken seriously. Any person who fails to present an SMS notification with a test result or wear a wristband 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/Saturday, April 24, 2021
Issued at HKT 7:42

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The Government yesterday (April 23) made a "restriction-testing declaration" and issued a compulsory testing notice in respect of the specified "restricted area" in Ap Lei Chau (i.e. Block 10 (Yee Lai Court), South Horizons, No. 10 South Horizon Drive, Ap Lei Chau), under which people within the specified "restricted area" in Ap Lei Chau were required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Photo shows a staff member putting on a wristband for a person subject to compulsory testing to prove he has undergone the testing.