The Government announced the lowering of the response level under the Preparedness and Response Plan for Novel Infectious Disease of Public Health Significance from the Emergency to Alert level with immediate effect, having taken into account the World Health Organization's latest advice on the COVID-19 epidemic situation (i.e. the COVID-19 epidemic situation no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern), as well as having assessed the latest local situation, risks and mutation of COVID-19 strains.

Acknowledging the updated statement on antigen composition of COVID-19 vaccines from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health stressed that receiving COVID-19 vaccination can effectively reduce the risk of serious illness and death from infection and called on members of the public who have not received the first three doses of vaccine to get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection.

The Government announced that the existing five COVID-19 community testing centres and community testing stations (CTC/CTSs) will completely cease operation starting from May 13.

For citizens who need to conduct nucleic acid testing, they may make their own arrangements at local nucleic acid testing institutions.

The Government has been closely monitoring the usage of COVID-19 oral drugs, and in light of the recent epidemic situation, the number of standard courses of each of the two COVID-19 oral drugs private doctors can request via the dedicated online platform set up by the Government is increased to 10 courses per order with immediate effect.

The Government announced that further adjustment will be made to the COVID-19 vaccination service arrangements and vaccination venues starting from end of April to align with the updated COVID-19 vaccination arrangement in the new phase of resumption of normalcy, with a view to sustaining sufficient capacity to cater for public demand while ensuring the cost-effectiveness of the arrangements.

The Government announced that the COVID-19 hotlines (2125 1111/2125 1122/1830 111) under the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health as well as the enquiry hotline (1836 115) and the Chinese Medicine Service Hotline (1834 511) under the Hospital Authority will cease operation starting from 8pm April 18. Upon the cessation of operation of the relevant hotlines, members of the public may continue to visit the COVID-19 Thematic Website (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for information.

In light of the experts' advice, the Government announced the following arrangements for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme 2023:

(1) People belonging to the following priority groups can receive an additional vaccine booster six months after their last dose or COVID-19 infection (whichever is later) free of charge in 2023, regardless of the number of vaccine doses they received in the past:
1. individuals aged 50 or above (including elderly living in residential care homes);
2. persons aged 18 to 49 years with underlying comorbidities;
3. persons aged 6 months or above and with immunocompromising conditions;
4. pregnant women; and
5. healthcare workers.

(2) For those who aged 6 months or above and not belonging to any of the aforementioned priority groups, they can continue to receive the first three doses of COVID-19 vaccine free of charge if they have never been infected with COVID-19. The Government calls on all members of the public, in particular infants and small children aged 6 months or above, who have not received the first three doses of vaccine to get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection even if they do not belong to any priority groups.

The Government announced that, as the COVID-19 epidemic continues to subside, the existing rapid antigen testing (RAT) requirement applicable to public hospitals as well as residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and the residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) will be lifted from March 25. Visitors of public hospitals, RCHEs and RCHDs will not be required to undergo an RAT prior to their visits, whereas clinical staff of public hospitals as well as staff and residents of residential care homes (RCHs) will no longer be required to undergo an RAT on a daily basis.

The demand for nucleic acid testing service has significantly decreased recently following the gradual lifting of pre-departure COVID-19 nucleic acid testing requirements around the world. Therefore, the Government will retain the operation of the following five community testing centres and community testing stations (CTC/CTSs) only to continue the provision of self-paid nucleic acid testing service starting from March 22, whereas the remaining 16 existing CTC/CTSs will cease operation from the same day.

1. Edinburgh Place, Central
2. Leighton Hill Community Hall, Causeway Bay
3. Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
4. Lek Yuen Community Hall, Sha Tin
5. Yuen Long Town East Community Hall

Having assessed the latest epidemic development, the Government announced that all mandatory mask-wearing requirements are lifted with effect from March 1. Citizens are no longer required to wear masks mandatorily onboard a public transport carrier, or within an MTR paid area, or in a specified public place (including both indoor and outdoor areas), as well as in premises regulated under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F).

In order to continue to protect the high-risk groups, citizens entering certain venues such as medical facilities or residential care homes for the elderly or residential care homes for persons with disabilities still need to follow the administrative mask-wearing requirement. The Government appealed to the public to wear a mask when having respiratory symptoms. Persons with weakened immunity or chronic disease(s) should also wear a mask when they are present in a poorly ventilated place.

The Government reminded members of the public that the nucleic acid testing requirement for public hospitals, residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities will be replaced by rapid antigen tests starting from March 1. Following the complete lifting of compulsory nucleic acid testing requirements, free nucleic acid testing service in the community testing network will cease accordingly from the same day onwards. A total of 21 community testing centres and community testing stations will be retained for provision of self-paid nucleic acid testing service to members of the public from 10am to 8pm daily (closed from 1.30pm to 2pm/2.30pm for deep cleaning and disinfection).

The Government announced that, starting from March 7, members of the public can download local vaccination, testing or recovery records compatible with the European Union Digital COVID Certificate (EU DCC) mechanism for outbound travel purposes via the COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System (eVT) or the "iAM Smart" mobile application. The Government reminded members of the public to ascertain the latest immigration requirements of their destinations, including those for vaccination or testing, before departure.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is entering a new phase. Community Vaccination Centres located at the Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre, the MTR Tsing Yi Station and the Millennium City 5 will operate until noon on February 28 and be closed afterwards. The vaccination programme will take public and private medical facilities as prime vaccination venues under the new mode of operation. Vaccination service of the paediatric and toddler formulations of the BioNTech vaccines at the Children Community Vaccination Centre of the Osman Ramju Sadick Memorial Sports Centre will be provided by Yan Chai Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Station starting from March 1.

The Government announced that, in view of the latest developments of the COVID-19 epidemic and the overall demand for nucleic acid testing, starting from March 1, the requirement for nucleic acid tests for public hospitals and residential care homes for the elderly and the residential care homes for persons with disabilities will be replaced by rapid antigen tests. Moreover, from the same day onwards, free nucleic acid testing service will no longer be provided at the community testing network, and the operation of nucleic acid testing will be scaled down.

The Government earlier announced the transitional arrangements of voluntary admission to community isolation facilities (CIFs) for people tested positive of COVID-19. The Government reminded members of the public that the relevant transitional arrangements for use by Hong Kong residents will last until February 28. As confinees can stay at the CIF for up to seven days, the last date for admission application would be on February 21. The same arrangement is also applicable to the holding centres manged by the Social Welfare Department for residents of residential care homes tested positive.

As Hong Kong returns to normalcy, the following daily COVID-19 update and the weekly list of current travel advisories and airline/cruise announcements will be suspended from tomorrow, February 15 (Wednesday). Information about the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong can be found on https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/index.html.

TOPLINE
- As at Feb 13, 3,224 persons received their doses of vaccine, a cumulative total of 20,666,758 doses have been administered; 167 positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded

- As at Feb 13:
* Positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded (not representing all COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong): 167
* Cumulative number of positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections (since Jan 30): 5,086
* Death cases related to COVID-19 newly recorded: 4
* Cumulative number of death cases related to COVID-19 (since Jan 30): 91

- As at Feb 13:
* 51 persons received their first dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,913,345 persons have received their first vaccine dose, making up 94.6% of the population aged 3 or above
* 92 persons received their second dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,795,081 persons have received their second vaccine dose, making up 93.1% of the population aged 3 or above
* 448 persons received their third dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 5,837,335 persons have received their third vaccine dose, making up 83.8% of the population aged 12 or above
* 2,037 persons received their fourth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 1,063,069 persons have received their fourth vaccine dose
* 596 persons received their fifth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 57,928 persons have received their fifth vaccine dose
- a total of 20,666,758 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the public

Mr Lee welcomed the visit by Mr Guo and the delegation after the implementation of full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland. He said that Hong Kong and Guangzhou enjoy close geographical and cultural ties, and have always maintained close co-operation among governments, the business sector and the community… "As the epidemic situation stabilises, and the travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland has resumed, I will visit Guangdong Province, particularly cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) very soon, and discuss with the leaders of the province and cities to further bring the mutual co-operation to new heights, with a view to jointly promoting the high-quality development of the GBA," said Mr Lee.

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced on February 13 that the holding centres (HCs) at Halls 11 and 9 of AsiaWorld-Expo will cease operation on February 15 and March 1 respectively. At the same time, the dedicated hotline for residential care homes operated by the SWD in collaboration with the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority and the Fire Services Department will also cease service from March 1.

TOPLINE
- As at Feb 12, 1,343 persons received their doses of vaccine, a cumulative total of 20,663,534 doses have been administered; 241 positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded

- As at Feb 12:
* Positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded (not representing all COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong): 241
* Cumulative number of positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections (since Jan 30): 4,919
* Death cases related to COVID-19 newly recorded: 2
* Cumulative number of death cases related to COVID-19 (since Jan 30): 87

- As at Feb 12:
* 32 persons received their first dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,913,294 persons have received their first vaccine dose, making up 94.6% of the population aged 3 or above
* 80 persons received their second dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,794,989 persons have received their second vaccine dose, making up 93.1% of the population aged 3 or above
* 251 persons received their third dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 5,836,887 persons have received their third vaccine dose, making up 83.8% of the population aged 12 or above
* 759 persons received their fourth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 1,061,032 persons have received their fourth vaccine dose
* 221 persons received their fifth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 57,332 persons have received their fifth vaccine dose
- a total of 20,663,534 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the public

TOPLINE
- As at Feb 11, 3,566 persons received their doses of vaccine, a cumulative total of 20,662,174 doses have been administered; 266 positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded

- As at Feb 11:
* Positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded (not representing all COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong): 266
* Cumulative number of positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections (since Jan 30): 4,678
* Death cases related to COVID-19 newly recorded: 4
* Cumulative number of death cases related to COVID-19 (since Jan 30): 85

- As at Feb 11:
* 43 persons received their first dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,913,262 persons have received their first vaccine dose, making up 94.6% of the population aged 3 or above
* 178 persons received their second dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,794,907 persons have received their second vaccine dose, making up 93.1% of the population aged 3 or above
* 568 persons received their third dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 5,836,634 persons have received their third vaccine dose, making up 83.8% of the population aged 12 or above
* 2,233 persons received their fourth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 1,060,260 persons have received their fourth vaccine dose
* 544 persons received their fifth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 57,111 persons have received their fifth vaccine dose
- a total of 20,662,174 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the public

To further encourage unvaccinated elderly to get vaccinated as soon as possible so as to reduce their risk of serious illness and death from infection, the Health Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau, the Home Affairs Department and the Housing Department will, further to the earlier visits to the public housing estates of 10 Districts, continue with the scheme to visit elderly persons at public housing estates in the Islands, North, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long Districts, as well as those at "three-nil building" of the 18 Districts to encourage them to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Starting from February 10 until end-March, the Government, together with District groups, will conduct door-to-door visits to households at the above Districts' estates or buildings with tenants aged 70 or above who have yet to receive COVID-19 vaccination and persuade them to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Elderly persons who are willing to receive vaccination will have arrangements made for them to receive the Home Vaccination Service.

TOPLINE
- As at Feb 10, 3,339 persons received their doses of vaccine, a cumulative total of 20,658,571 doses have been administered; 250 positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded

- As at Feb 10:
* Positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded (not representing all COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong): 250
* Cumulative number of positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections (since Jan 30): 4,412
* Death cases related to COVID-19 newly recorded: 5
* Cumulative number of death cases related to COVID-19 (since Jan 30): 81

- As at Feb 10:
* 61 persons received their first dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,913,218 persons have received their first vaccine dose, making up 94.6% of the population aged 3 or above
* 126 persons received their second dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,794,728 persons have received their second vaccine dose, making up 93.1% of the population aged 3 or above
* 540 persons received their third dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 5,836,056 persons have received their third vaccine dose, making up 83.8% of the population aged 12 or above
* 2,092 persons received their fourth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 1,058,006 persons have received their fourth vaccine dose
* 520 persons received their fifth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 56,563 persons have received their fifth vaccine dose
- a total of 20,658,571 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the public

I think what is important is we need to tell the world Hong Kong has overcome the trouble of COVID, which troubled us for the past three years, and we are fully open and we are fully connected to Mainland cities, and we are ready for action to promote not just ourselves, but to welcome other people to come to Hong Kong to develop their markets and enhance our co-operation.

To further encourage unvaccinated elderly to get vaccinated as soon as possible so as to reduce their risk of serious illness and death from infection, the Health Bureau, the Civil Service Bureau, the Home Affairs Department and the Housing Department will, further to the earlier visits to the public housing estates of 10 Districts, continue with the scheme to visit elderly persons at public housing estates in the Islands, North, Sai Kung, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Tuen Mun and Yuen Long Districts, as well as those at "three-nil building" of the 18 Districts to encourage them to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Starting from February 10 until end-March, the Government, together with District groups, will conduct door-to-door visits to households at the above Districts' estates or buildings with tenants aged 70 or above who have yet to receive COVID-19 vaccination and persuade them to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Elderly persons who are willing to receive vaccination will have arrangements made for them to receive the Home Vaccination Service.

The HKSAR government, including all ETOs, and various social sectors should join hands to tell the good stories of Hong Kong globally and stress that the city has fully reopened and returned to normalcy. I am positive that with such a concerted effort, we will open up new opportunities and charter a brighter future for Hong Kong.

TOPLINE
- As at Feb 9, 2,753 persons received their doses of vaccine, a cumulative total of 20,655,209 doses have been administered; 307 positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded

- As at Feb 9:
* Positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections newly recorded (not representing all COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong): 307
* Cumulative number of positive nucleic acid test laboratory detections (since Jan 30): 4,162
* Death cases related to COVID-19 newly recorded: 6
* Cumulative number of death cases related to COVID-19 (since Jan 30): 76

- As at Feb 9:
* 59 persons received their first dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,913,157 persons have received their first vaccine dose, making up 94.6% of the population aged 3 or above
* 120 persons received their second dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 6,794,601 persons have received their second vaccine dose, making up 93.1% of the population aged 3 or above
* 452 persons received their third dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 5,835,510 persons have received their third vaccine dose, making up 83.7% of the population aged 12 or above
* 1,674 persons received their fourth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 1,055,901 persons have received their fourth vaccine dose
* 448 persons received their fifth dose of vaccine; a cumulative total of 56,040 persons have received their fifth vaccine dose
- a total of 20,655,209 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered for members of the public

Having gone through the epidemic for three years, Hong Kong is now moving forward on the road to normalcy at full speed, while normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland has also fully resumed since February 6. Despite a substantial rise in the cross-boundary flow of people to and from Hong Kong over the past three days, there is no significant increase in the number of non-eligible persons seeking medical treatment at the Accident and Emergency departments of public hospitals under the Hospital Authority. The Government will continue to closely monitor the epidemic development and the demand for public healthcare services, and ensure that the healthcare system has adequate ability and capacity, such that healthcare services will not be affected.