By The SUN
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| Mandatory testing will be enforced for people who fall under specified categories |
A new law that allows the Hong Kong government to
compel certain categories of people to undergo Covid-19 testing, and for medical
practitioners to require patients with symptoms to undergo the tests, was
published in Official Gazette on Saturday, Nov 14.
The Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory
Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap 599J) takes effect today, Nov 15.
The new law was imposed as social distancing measures
were tightened anew amid fears the fourth wave of coronavirus infections in the
city has begun.
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The more stringent measures include reverting to the
12midnight closure for dine-in services in restaurants and bars, and limiting
to four the number of people who may sit together in restaurants, and only two
in a bar.
Measures to restrict “staycations” are also being
worked out, including limiting the number of guests in each hotel room to only
four, except for people who live together.
According to a government press release, those who might be compelled to take the test are those who
live or work in specified premises with outbreak of cases, persons of a
particular occupation, or persons who are close to completion of the compulsory
14-day quarantine upon their arrival at Hong Kong.
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“The Secretary for Food and Health
(SFH) will publish the relevant notices when necessary taking into account the
epidemic development and the testing participation rate,” said the statement.
In addition, the Secretary may direct
a specified medical practitioner to require, through a written direction, any
person whom he clinically suspects has contracted Covid-19, to undergo testing.
Those subjected to compulsory testing
may either choose the testing service provided by the Department of Health or a
qualified private laboratory.
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Any person who fails to comply with the testing notice or testing direction may be fined a fixed penalty of $2,000, and ordered to undergo testing within a specified period. If the person still fails to comply with the order, he or she would be subject to a fine of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Meanwhile,
the Centre for Health Protection reported eight new Covid-19 cases Saturday,
taking the total tally to 5,444 confirmed and one probable case.
Of these, five recently arrived from overseas. Of the
three local cases, two were linked to previous infections, while the third,
involving a 58-year-old male resident of Tsz Wan Shan, was of unknown source.
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| A crackdown in 'staycations' looms with the rise in untraceable local cases |
A statement from the Food and Health Bureau Saturday warned that the worsening global epidemic situation, coupled with the rise in the number of local confirmed cases with unknown source, could trigger the fourth wave of outbreak.
The government has thus decided to
tighten infection control measures, particularly targeting the risks brought
about by social gatherings where people take off their masks, including those
inside hotel rooms (or “staycation”).
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As part of the planned restrictions, all
guests visiting hotel rooms will have to register their personal particulars at
the reception, have their body temperature taken before being allowed inside,
and be provided with hand sanitizers.
Hotel operators will also have to clean
and disinfect facilities and accessories before the use of the new customer,
and ensure quarantining guests do not leave their rooms.
But before any of these new measures
can be implemented, the government will first have to amend the law to include
hotels among scheduled premises under Cap 599.
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What will take effect starting
Monday, Nov 16, are the new requirements targeting restaurants and other food
establishments, including preventing customers from consuming food or drink
away from the table, and requiring them to wear masks when not eating or drinking.
The eateries will also go back to
filling only up 50% of their normal seating capacity, from the present 75%.
From Nov 18, there will also be a
tightening of rules for people under quarantine, including barring them from
taking in visitors so they don’t have any face-to-face contact with anyone
during their isolation.
This means, even those who bring them
food and other supplies can only leave the provisions outside the hotel room.
If the person under quarantine needs
a carer, the Department of Health can give permission for a carer to stay in
the hotel room, but must remain there with the confinee until the end of the
quarantine period.
Those who break quarantine rules are
subject to a maximum imprisonment of six months and a fine of $25,000.
On the other hand, people who run catering businesses or managers of scheduled premises that violate Cap 599F face up to $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months.
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