To strengthen its tracing ability, the Government today announced that it will publish in the gazette compulsory testing notices which require all household members of close contacts to undergo compulsory COVID-19 testing.

The Food & Health Bureau explained that after taking into account expert advice, the Government will strengthen testing for close contacts of confirmed cases for gatekeeping at the source in order to cut the transmission of the virus swiftly.

Currently, the Centre for Health Protection requires asymptomatic close contacts of confirmed cases to undergo compulsory quarantine in quarantine centres.

To strengthen tracing ability, the Government will now require the household members of close contacts to undergo compulsory testing.

All people who live with any individual placed under quarantine in the same residential unit on the date of commencement of quarantine or during the 14 days before that day, and who become aware of the quarantine of the individual under quarantine when the relevant quarantine has not yet been completed, have to undergo testing within two days of becoming aware that the individual has been placed under quarantine.

Those concerned must also report their test results to the Government by phone at 6275 6901, fax at 2530 5872 or email to ct@csb.gov.hk within three days of undergoing the test.