[Explanation] The outbreak of the epidemic in Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong continues, and sewage samples from many buildings continue to test positive.
At 4 a.m. on January 23, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government announced that an area of about 50,000 square meters in Jordan, Yau Ma Tei, would be designated as a "restricted area", requiring people in this area to stay home for mandatory testing. Hopefully, within 48 hours Complete the action and achieve the goal of "Zero Clearing".
[Explanation] In the afternoon, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam went to the "restricted area" in Jordan to inspect the work and said that after careful consideration, the Special Administrative Region government took this measure and hoped to achieve three results.
[Concurrent] Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
First, of course, we, as always, hope that infected cases can be identified as soon as possible, and isolated, so as to cut off the transmission chain of the virus.
The second is to eliminate the anxiety of residents in this district.
Because it is undeniable that the more cases there are, the outsiders will see this area as a very high-risk area.
For the merchants and residents here, whether in physical or daily life, or their business, it is very influential.
Third, of course, we have done it more than once. This is a method we need to use. So this time we sum up our experience and see where we can improve, and we can prepare.
[Explanation] It is reported that this is the first time that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has cited the law to issue a "foot-free order" since December 8, 2020, since it formulated the relevant legal framework for the blockade of high-risk premises.
Carrie Lam said that more than 3,000 civil servants from various government departments participated in the operation to support her. She made a request and hoped that the relevant work could be "the more humane the better."
[Concurrent] Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
The first is that we will notify these residents, we will arrange them in batches in an orderly manner, and even accompany them downstairs to the mobile sampling station to receive sampling, basically knocking on the door from house to house, and then taking them down.
Secondly, we know how many ethnic friends are in this district, so our information and our leaflets (leaflets) will all have ethnic minority languages.
Thirdly, there is a home for the elderly in this district. I believe that there are other elderly or disabled people who are not convenient to go downstairs to receive sampling, so we will arrange home sampling.
The fourth is 48 hours. After all, it is a long time. Every resident who comes down for the test will provide a food pack.
[Explanation] In response to media reports that some residents left the community overnight before the closure of the area, Carrie Lam said that in the future, it will work with relevant government departments to track and follow up residents who are subject to mandatory testing.
[Concurrent] Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Earlier, everyone remembered that we did a high-profile law enforcement work in Yueming Village. Because it is a public housing estate, there is a list of tenants. Then we checked one by one and found that the (residents) compliance rate was actually 96%. .
That means that there are still a few percentage points of residents in Yueming Village who have not done this compulsory test. We found about 100 people who have not been tested in the records of the Housing Department and handed them to the health protection. The center will follow up, including issuing mandatory inspection orders or fines.
[Explanation] Compared with residents in public housing estates, Carrie Lam said that the compulsory inspection and follow-up work for Chinese residents of private homes is more complicated.
Reporter Fan Siyi and Liang Yuan from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: [Ye Pan]