6.1k COVID-19 cases in HK

February 17, 2022

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

 

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 6,116 additional COVID-19 cases, of which nine are imported and the rest are locally infected.

 

A total of 16,513 positive cases were reported in Hong Kong in the past 14 days, comprising 103 imported and 16,410 locally acquired cases.

 

Meanwhile, the Government announced amendments to the discharge criteria for COVID-19 patients in community isolation facilities so as to free up places to cope with the epidemic situation.

 

Under Secretary for Food & Health Dr Chui Tak-yi said at a press briefing this afternoon that patients may leave isolation facilities if they test negative for the virus on the seventh day after the positive test results. They should then isolate at home provided they do not live with seniors, pregnant women or chronically ill patients.

 

“Referring to the new measure on discharging patients from community isolation facilities, it is based on, of course, the characteristics of the Omicron virus and also the relevant experts’ views on whether it is safe, from the infectious disease control perspective, to release the individuals from these facilities based on their test results.”

 

Under the new arrangement, asymptomatic patients or those with minor symptoms awaiting hospital treatment will not need to be sent to the isolation facilities if they test negative on the 14th day pending admission to hospital.

 

In view of the positive sewage test results of Mei Wui House, Shek Kip Mei Estate in Sham Shui Po as well as the detection of a preliminary positive case there, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration tonight to cover the building, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing.

 

Yiu Ping House, Yiu On Estate in Sha Tin and Mun Wo House, Mun Tung Estate in Tung Chung also recorded positive sewage test results, while 54 and 68 people in the two housing blocks have preliminarily tested positive for the virus, so the Government has extended the restriction-testing declaration period to tomorrow.

 

Regarding the positive sewage test results found in several areas in Sham Shui Po, Southern District and Tsuen Wan, the Home Affairs Department will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to all cleansing workers and property management staff working in those areas from tomorrow.

 

In view of a number of preliminary positive and positive cases, 27 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice.

 

Starting tomorrow, the Government will set up additional mobile specimen collection stations at Southorn Playground in Wan Chai and Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O.

 

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.

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