Government follows up on incident of person under compulsory quarantine order leaving designated quarantine hotel
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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health was notified by the Ramada Hong Kong Grand Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui on September 25 evening that a 75-year-old foreign male arriving in Hong Kong from Italy and residing at that DQH on that day had left the hotel room and lingered in the corridor without permission during the hotel quarantine period, in contravention of the compulsory quarantine order. The man was then requested by the hotel staff to return to his room.
Under the established mechanism, the CHP reported the incident to the Compliance Team of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme under the FHB as well as the Police. A vehicle from the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) was also arranged to send the man to the quarantine centre for compulsory quarantine on the next day (September 26). When the AMS vehicle arrived at the DQH at around 1pm on that day, the man was found to be missing.
According to the CCTV surveillance record of the hotel, the man left the quarantine hotel at around 11am on September 26 and walked towards Nathan Road along Hillwood Road.
The Police is now looking for the man while the Compliance Team of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme and the management of the hotel are also conducting follow-up investigations.
The authorities expressed deep concern and attached great importance to the incident. The Government strongly appeals to the people under quarantine to follow the quarantine requirement strictly in order to protect the health of themselves and others. The measure is of utmost importance to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community. Leaving places of quarantine without permission is a criminal offence and offenders are subject to a maximum fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months upon conviction.
Ends/Monday, September 27, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:00
Issued at HKT 19:00
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