In response to a media report that a lawyer has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19 after visiting people in custody, the Correctional Services Department said today the people concerned are currently asymptomatic.

According to the visit records, the lawyer conducted an official visit to two people in custody in Stanley Prison on July 3 and 4 and one in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on July 11.

The department said it immediately separated the people in custody concerned and placed them under medical surveillance while the facilities concerned were thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

It added that in view of the COVID-19 development, the department has enhanced prevention and disinfection measures for official visits since late March.

Such measures include checking visitors’ body temperature and requiring all visitors to fill out health declaration forms and wear masks.

Other enhancements were made to official visit rooms that include installing transparent plastic partitions to prevent transmission of respiratory droplets and adding two periods of cleaning and disinfection on top of the regular cleaning routine.

The department emphasised that it will closely liaise with the Centre for Health Protection and monitor the situation.