Sophia Chan Defends Quarantine Exemptions

Health Secretary Sophia Chan said on Saturday that the government would maintain its policy of under which some people entering Hong Kong from the mainland are exempted from quarantine, stressing that a man who was exempt but was subsequently confirmed with Covid-19 was in Hong Kong during his incubation period.

A 44 year-old office worker, who lives in a North Point building indirectly owned by the Beijing Liaison's Office, is Hong Kong's first infection with no known source in almost a week.

Health authorities later revealed that he visited Shenzhen between the end of September and early October, and was exempted from quarantine upon his return to Hong Kong.

But speaking on a radio programme, the health secretary stressed that the man's trip to the mainland happened outside his incubation period, and authorities were still tracing his source of infection and his previous activities.

She said there was nothing wrong with the government's quarantine exemption arrangements, and this case had no bearing on the policy, adding that the mainland coronavirus situation remained stable.

The minister also said Hong Kongers living on the mainland could come to the SAR without quarantine from next month, but there would be quotas initially to avoid overcrowding at the borders.

Chan also revealed that the government has chosen four community centres in Hong Kong to set up long-term testing centres for people to get paid Covid-19 tests.

The centres will be set up at the Quarry Bay Community Hall, Henry G. Leong Yau Ma Tei Community Centre, Sha Tin's Lek Yuen Community Hall and the Yuen Long East Community Hall.

Officials hoped they could start operations in November, offering tests seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm.