The Government announced today (September 13) that a quarantine hotel initially reserved for air crew will join the eighth cycle of the Designated Quarantine Hotel (DQH) Scheme starting from the day after tomorrow (September 15) and another DQH will increase its supply of hotel rooms. In addition, new clauses will be added to the contracts for the ninth cycle of the Scheme to allow the DQH guests identified as confirmed cases to stay in their original hotel to undergo isolation.  
 
     Newly joining the eighth cycle of the Scheme is the EAST Hong Kong in Eastern District. The hotel will start accepting room bookings and operating from the day after tomorrow. Besides, the Four Points by Sheraton Hong Kong in Tung Chung will provide extra hotel rooms. Taking into account the aforementioned new hotel and the hotels withdrew early from the Scheme for various reasons at an earlier time, there are altogether 62 hotels for the eighth cycle of the Scheme, offering around 23 600 rooms as a whole.
 
     The eighth cycle of the Scheme runs from August 1 to October 31. The Government will timely update the list of DQHs and their booking status on the thematic website.
 
     Separately, the Government issued letters to enlist hotels or guesthouses with valid licenses to join the ninth cycle of the DQH Scheme with a view to facilitating the planning of DQHs and inbound travellers. Also, new clauses will be added to the contracts for DQHs in the new cycle, having considered the current epidemic development and assessed the latest inbound anti-epidemic requirements and related circumstances, to allow DQH guests identified as confirmed cases to stay in their original hotel to undergo isolation.
 
     At present, DQH guests who are identified as confirmed cases are sent to isolation hotels or the community isolation facilities in Penny's Bay/Kai Tak. According to the new clauses of the ninth cycle of the Scheme, DQH guests identified as confirmed cases will be allowed to stay in the hotel for isolation on their choice and a self-paid basis. However, DQHs must strengthen its relevant infection control measures, such as arranging specific floors or rooms to isolate the confirmed cases and installing additional air purifiers at appropriate locations. Hotel staff will also have to put on appropriate personal protective gears to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. The arrangement will save confirmed cases from travelling and enable better utilisation of manpower and vehicles originally deployed for transporting confirmed cases, while reducing the transmission risk during the transportation process. 
 
     The Office of the Designated Quarantine Hotel Scheme will discuss with the industry on implementation details to ensure that the aforementioned arrangement will be put into practice under the principles of ensuring proper isolation arrangements for confirmed cases in hotel and avoiding any increasing risk of infection for hotel staff.

Ends/Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Issued at HKT 21:15

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