6 September 2020
Immigration Department (ImmD) and Correctional Services Department (CSD) spokesmen today (September 6) revealed that the departments were notified by the Centre for Protection (CHP) last night (September 5) that a 22-year-old male Thai transferred from Pik Uk Prison to Castle Peak Bay Immigration Centre (CIC) for detention was tested positive for COVID-19.
In view of the latest development of the COVID-19 epidemic, all persons newly admitted to the CIC will undergo COVID-19 testing. The detainee concerned was transferred to the CIC on September 4 upon completion of prison terms at Pik Uk Prison and pending repatriation. After undergoing the testing, he was confirmed tested positive for COVID-19 last night and was admitted to hospital immediately for treatments.
He was sentenced to 8 weeks' imprisonment on July 31. According to the established mechanism, the CSD put him under isolation at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre. Throughout the course of isolation, he was asymptomatic and his body temperature was normal when undergoing temperature screening.
On August 22, he was transferred to Pik Uk Prison to serve his remaining sentence. The Laundry Workshop Complex of Pik Uk Prison has provided laundry services to the hospitals under the Hospital Authority (HA), including washing of soiled patient clothings, sheet draws and blankets, etc. He was assigned to handle and wash the soiled linen inside the workshop. The CSD would regularly invite the Hospital Authoritystaff to conduct site inspections. Besides, the CSD would adopt the professional advice given by the HA staff for updating of the work instructions and the provision of appropriate personal protective equipment to the persons in custody. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic disease, the CSD has been enhancing the infection control measures inside the Laundary Workshop Complex so as to safeguard the occupational safety of the staff members therein.
Those persons in custody who had close contact with him at Pik Uk Prison are asymptomatic so far. The CSD has liaised with the CHP and the HA to arrange for those officers and persons in custody with close contact to undergo COVID-19 testing. The Laundry Workshop Complex will be shut down for thorough cleaning and disinfection.
The ImmD proactively co-operates with the CHP's measures of disease prevention and control including arranging COVID-19 testings for all detainees and Immigration staff members at CIC. The CIC has also immediately suspended all visits until further notice. In addition, ImmD has arranged thorough cleaning and disinfection works.
In view of the latest development of the COVID-19 outbreak, the ImmD has stepped up various disease prevention measures in CIC, including regular thorough cleaning and disinfection measures at all detention facilities; all ImmD staff members must wear masks when performing duties; requiring all detainees to wear masks when engaging activities; measuring the body temperature of all detainees on a daily basis. In case of any detainee found to have symptoms of fever, medical professionals of the CIC would conduct medical examination immediately. Medical officer on duty will arrange detainees to receive further medical treatments at public hospitals if deemed necessary. The CIC will review and update the infection control measures in place regularly to prevent the outbreak of communicable disease and continue to provide a safe environment for all detainees, staff members and visitors.
The CSD is also highly concerned about the epidemic and has remained highly vigilant. Relevant hygienic measures for prevention of infectious diseases have been strictly implemented in accordance with the established mechanism. In addition, a series of disease prevention and disinfection measures have been put in place, including requiring staff members and persons in custody to check body temperatures and wear masks. All the facilities in the institution also undergo cleaning and disinfection regularly. The staff members and persons in custody are also reminded by the management to consult a doctor promptly if they have any discomforting symptoms.