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Government responds to media enquiries on FS' PCR test and isolation arrangement
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     In response to media enquiries about the post-arrival PCR test and isolation arrangement for the Financial Secretary (FS), Mr Paul Chan, a Government spokesman said the following today (November 2):

     Currently, all inbound travellers from overseas places or Taiwan must obtain negative result of rapid antigen test (RAT) conducted within 24 hours prior to their scheduled time of departure and declare via the online Health & Quarantine Information Declaration of the Department of Health (DH) before they are allowed to board a flight for Hong Kong. Since June 1, for inbound travellers who were infected with COVID-19 within three months, even if their pre-departure PRC test results were still positive (pre-departure PCR test was replaced by RAT from September 26), they were allowed to board a flight to Hong Kong if they tested negative by RAT within 24 hours.

     Whether or not they have been infected with COVID-19, all inbound travellers from overseas places or Taiwan must conduct PCR test at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) upon their arrival. Under the "Test-and-go" arrangement, they are not required to wait for the test result at the airport after undergoing specimen collection and can leave the airport in accordance with normal procedures. For those tested positive by PCR test on arrival, if they have declared recent infection with COVID-19, the DH will evaluate whether to classify them as recovered person or an imported case according to their positive declaration records and data of their test results, and decide on an appropriate quarantine or isolation arrangement.

     According to the records of the DH, from September 26 to November 1, a total of 455 inbound travellers who declared a past history of COVID-19 infection within 3 months prior to arrival at Hong Kong, tested PCR positive upon arrival and were asymptomatic with relatively high Ct values by PCR test. They were regarded as recovered cases and not contagious, they were not given isolation order and Red Code as they were not regarded as new infections or contagious. The CHP would follow up on their subsequent PCR test results (post arrival PCR tests on Day 2, 4 and 6 which apply to all inbound travellers) to ensure they continue to be non-contagious. 

     In accordance with entry quarantine arrangements that apply to all inbound travellers from overseas places or Taiwan, the DH conducted testing and quarantine procedures on the FS who arrived from Saudi Arabia yesterday (November 1). The FS conducted a PCR test upon arrival at the HKIA yesterday and the result was positive with Ct value within the range of the above-mentioned recovered cases. The CHP evaluated his health declaration record and PCR test result in accordance with established procedures and examined his clinical situation, including he was asymptomatic and had obtained a negative result of RAT prior to boarding. The CHP determined that it was a recovered case, isolation and Red code were not issued. When attending the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, the FS has to follow measures which applies to other participants from overseas. As a prudent measure, the FS would not take part in meals. 
 
Ends/Wednesday, November 2, 2022
Issued at HKT 23:29
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