Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor meets the press ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting at the Central Government Offices, Hong Kong, Jan 26, 2021. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the weekend's targeted testing in a cordoned-off area in Jordan was successful but 200 residents were unable to show test results on demand. She pointed out that unconfirmed media reports may have prompted many to leave the area beforehand.
Lam was speaking to reporters before an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday morning, shortly after health authorities issued mandatory coronavirus testing notices to 18 residential buildings in Sham Shui Po – sparking off speculation that pockets in that district would be the next to be cordoned off.
Carrie Lam, who did not specify whether a similar operation was in the pipelines, said the government will “exhaust every useful tool” to rein in community outbreaks
According to media reports, shortly before cordons had been thrown around the Jordan pocket covering more than 150 buildings in the early hours of Saturday, some residents chose to leave the area in order to evade testing.
READ MORE: HK lifts restriction in Jordan after testing 7,000 people
Lam conceded that it was hard for the government to keep such operations confidential to the last minute given the involvement of more than 3,000 civil servants and three testing agencies.
Lam, who did not specify whether a similar operation was in the pipelines, said the government will “exhaust every useful tool” to rein in community outbreaks.
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But she made it clear that next time, the government would consider sealing off only a smaller area such as a single street or several connected buildings.
She said the Centre for Health Protection will follow up on those Jordan residents who missed getting tested. Police running a post-testing door-to-door confirmation check found 200 residents who were unable to show test results, indicating they hadn't taken the virus test despite being notified. The Jordan testing involving 7,000 residents uncovered 13 infected patients there.
Hong Kong reported 73 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, including 69 local infections, bringing the city's tally to 10,158.