More lockdowns at estate

January 25, 2022

Chief Executive Carrie Lam:

There is no doubt that we have a major spread in Kwai Chung Estate based on the Omicron (strain), a (COVID-19) variant which is highly transmissible. By now, on a cumulative basis, we already have 220-plus confirmed or preliminary positive cases in Kwai Chung Estate.

Yat Kwai (House) clearly is the core of all these infections with a large number of cases. So having looked at the situation from an epidemiological perspective and the mere fact that yesterday, we still discovered new cases in Yat Kwai (House) and that is why, to play it safe, protecting the residents as well as preventing the spread of this virus, we have no choice but to extend the restriction-testing declaration for another two days. That is from five days to a total of seven days.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Chief Executive Carrie Lam today announced that the Government will extend the restriction-testing declaration for Yat Kwai House in Kwai Chung Estate and impose a five-day lockdown operation at Ha Kwai House in the same estate.

Ahead of the Executive Council meeting, Mrs Lam told reporters that there is a major spread of the highly transmissible Omicron variant at Kwai Chung Estate and that more than 220 confirmed or preliminary positive cases have been identified there so far.

She said: “Yat Kwai House clearly is the core of all these infections with a large number of cases. So having looked at the situation from an epidemiological perspective and the mere fact that yesterday, we still discovered new cases in Yat Kwai House - that is why, to play it safe protecting the residents as well as preventing the spread of this virus, we have no choice but to extend the restriction-testing declaration for another two days. That is from five days to a total of seven days.”

The restriction-testing declaration for Yat Kwai House will last until January 28.

Meanwhile, as more than 10 preliminary positive cases have been detected at Ha Kwai House in the same estate, the Chief Executive also announced a five-day lockdown operation for the building, under which all residents must stay at home and get tested regularly until January 29.