19 February 2021
An Immigration Department (ImmD) spokesman today (February 19) said that the department was notified by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) yesterday afternoon (February 18) that a Vietnamese illegal immigrant detained at Ma Tau Kok Detention Centre (MTKDC) had tested positive for COVID-19.
In view of the latest developments of the COVID-19 epidemic, currently all detainees newly admitted to MTKDC will undergo COVID-19 testing. In addition, according to the advice of the CHP, the above-mentioned persons should be tested again for COVID-19 within 14 days of detention after the first test.
One Vietnamese illegal immigrant was sent to MTKDC on February 5 for detention pending removal. The Vietnamese person concerned was required to undergo COVID-19 testing when newly admitted and tested negative. On February 17, the Vietnamese person concerned was required to undergo a second COVID-19 test and was confirmed as testing positive for COVID-19 in the afternoon yesterday. The Vietnamese person concerned was admitted to hospital for treatment immediately. The other eight detainees once isolated in the same confinement with the Vietnamese person concerned were classified as close contacts and arranged to stay in quarantine centres for quarantine and medical surveillance.
The ImmD will actively co-operate with the CHP's measures and instructions for disease prevention and control including arranging COVID-19 testing for all detainees and ImmD staff members at MTKDC as soon as possible. MTKDC has also immediately suspended all visits until further notice. Meanwhile, the ImmD has carried out thorough cleaning and disinfection for the detention facilities concerned.