Highlights of the new press release issued last night:

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) will perform epidemiological investigation and risk assessment to identify close contacts for reported cases. Close contacts in general are defined as those who have stayed or lived with the patient, or had face-to-face contact with a case without wearing a mask.

Under certain circumstances, such as at an outbreak situation where two or more confirmed cases are found within the same premises, or within an environment with higher risk (e.g. playing sports, doing exercise or staying in the same classroom or school hall for an extended period of time), contacts even if wearing a mask could also be considered as close contacts.
Govt Operated QCs

Junior Police Call Permanent Activity Centre, the Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village, the Sai Kung Outdoor Recreation Centre and the Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre;

Sending close contacts to QCs is considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account a number of factors, including whether there are special needs (e.g. minors, pregnant women), medical needs, distance between close contacts' residence and the QC, etc. Normally those requiring medical attention would be sent to one of the four QCs at government facilities where their health condition can be better monitored and supported in case of emergency.

For any child under age 18 to be quarantined in QCs, the Department of Health (DH) upon request would generally allow one of the parents to accompany their children to the QCs to take care of them. In such cases, the parent and the child would remain in the same room until the quarantine period ends.

If a parent tests positive and to be hospitalised, a caretaker arranged by the parents (who can be relatives, parents' adult friends or domestic helpers) could be allowed to accompany the quarantined child.

For parents classified as close contacts but would like to stay with their children with special needs who are not close contacts, the parent could make request to DH to bring their children to the QC. The children will need to stay with the parents for the whole quarantine period. The parents need to sign an undertaking that they fully understand the risk of infection.


The HA fully understands the special needs of children, and has been striking a balance between infection control measures and the needs of patients. If parents or family members of a paediatric COVID-19 patient are also diagnosed with COVID-19, public hospitals will consider placing the patients in the same Airborne Infection Isolation Room, subject to assessment of the patients' clinical condition. In cases where the parents test negative, public hospitals will also accommodate their request to accompany the paediatric patient, subject to the agreement of the CHP of DH and the availability of isolation capacities.

The hospital will explain the risk of contracting the infection to the parents. Essential infection control precautions and personal protective equipment will be provided. Due to infection control consideration, the parents will be required to undergo an additional quarantine period under CHP after the paediatric patient is discharged.


Taken from here:

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...1031600781.htm