'We Will Send People Into Quarantine More Quickly'

Authorities said on Saturday that close contacts of coronavirus patients will be sent into quarantine more quickly, amid criticism that inefficient arrangements had led to a woman dying at home while she waited to be sent to a quarantine centre.

Speaking on a radio programme, the Secretary for Health Sophia Chan acknowledged concerns about delays, explaining that a recent surge in Covid-19 cases had put a strain on resources.

She said evacuating residents from several Covid-hit buildings in recent days had also added to health officials’ workloads.

The Department of Health has admitted it had failed to promptly send some people into quarantine because of the recent spike in infections. It said over 400 people had been sent into quarantine on some days in the last week – double the amount they usually process.

Chan said the Department of Health is speeding up their work, and aims to send people into quarantine within one day.

She said more staff had been deployed from within the Department of Health, and the Fire Services Department has been asked to provide vehicles to help ferry people to quarantine centres.

Chan added that health officials will seek assistance from the police when they have difficulty contacting people who are to be sent to quarantine.

Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung meanwhile told an RTHK programme that there are sufficient quarantine facilities in the city, with 1,600 units available at the moment.

He said there will be 850 more units at the Penny’s Bay facility next week and a hotel will provide another 700 rooms by the end of the month, bringing the total number of quarantine units here to around 6,000.