Residents Praise Smooth Lockdown; Some Question Need

Residents who underwent compulsory testing overnight in the Mid-Levels said on Sunday morning that the operation was very efficient, but they were divided about whether it was completely necessary.

Officials say 1,855 people were tested for Covid-19 at blocks 1 and 2 of Robinson Place and phases 1 and 2 of the nearby Blessings Garden on Conduit Road. No confirmed cases were uncovered.

“It took us maybe 40 minutes to get tested overnight then we got the result this morning… I’d say it was pretty smooth,” said one man, who lives in Robinson Place, which was locked down overnight in an “ambush-style” operation.

Another resident said the lockdown had been a bit stressful, but she thought the operation as a whole was fairly organised and quick.

“We’ve seen this morning, that after the testing, there’s no positive cases found,” she said. “That’s definitely helped my nerves in terms of living in the building, living in the area.”

“Bit stressful because we didn’t know anything – we just saw loads of police cars and lots of people running; we didn’t get any official communication,” she said. “But afterwards, once we knew what was happening, I suppose it does make a bit of a safer environment.

“I can’t think of better ways to get the testing done, so you know who you’re living with, and who in your community, is safe.”

Another resident of the building, who gave her name as Priscilla, said she wasn’t too concerned about being tested, as she had just received the results of a separate Covid-19 test earlier that morning.

“They still made me do it again – that was a little annoying – but overall, it was okay,” she said.

“I don’t think it was necessary at all – from what I know, we only had one case… I know there are some other estates with four cases, so I’m really not sure why they closed this building down,” she said, adding the operation was “completely unnecessary”.

Authorities say they visited 980 households in the area and received no answer at 150 of them, which could include vacant flats or the homes of people sent to quarantine or in hospital with Covid-19.

Attention has focused on Central and Western District in recent days after 99 people linked to a gym in Sai Ying Pun were diagnosed with the virus.