Gov’t urges Yau Ma Tei, Jordan district residents to get tested for Covid-19

Authorities conducted home visits in buildings or constructions covered by the compulsory testing notices on Saturday. (Information Services Department/info.gov.hk)

Recently, a number of confirmed Covid-19 cases were found in the district of Yau Ma Tei and Jordan over a short period of time.

To cut the transmission chain, the Government has been issuing compulsory testing notices.  Persons who had been present at the relevant buildings in the specified period will have to undergo compulsory testing.  They can undergo free testing at the mobile specimen collection stations or community testing centres, such as that at Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre. They should take appropriate personal disease prevention measures including wearing a mask and maintaining hand hygiene, and stay at their home and avoid going out until the test result is ascertained as far as practicable. Failing to comply with the compulsory testing notice is an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $5,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him/her to undergo testing within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and to imprisonment for six months.

The Government encourages residents in Yau Ma Tei district to undergo testing proactively and promptly, even if they are not subject to compulsory testing. There are other routes of undergo free testing, such as obtaining a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from post offices, vending machines set up at 20 MTR stations or 47 designated general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority and returning the specimen to one of the designated specimen collection points.

The most common symptoms of Covid-19 include fever, malaise, dry cough and shortness of breath. Other symptoms include nasal congestion, headache, conjunctivitis, sore throat, diarrhoea, loss of taste or smell, skin rash or discolouration of fingers or toes. If you have symptoms, seek medical attention immediately and undergo testing as instructed by a medical professional.

Maintaining strict personal and environmental hygiene at all times is key to personal protection against infection and prevention of the spread of the disease in the community. Members of the public should perform hand hygiene frequently, especially before touching the mouth, nose or eyes, after touching public installations such as handrails or doorknobs, or when hands are contaminated by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing. Avoid going out, having social contact and dining out. Put on a surgical mask and maintain stringent hand hygiene when they need to go out.

Please visit the “Covid-19 Thematic Website” (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for latest updates. The main content of the website has been translated into nine different languages, including Nepali. Let us join hands in combating the Covid-19 epidemic.

This article was contributed by the Health Department.