Following the Government's lifting of isolation orders for infected persons according to the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Cap. 599A) from today (January 30), the Social Welfare Department will no longer accept applications for the one-off ex-gratia cash allowance for locally confirmed COVID-19 patients starting from February 14. Applications submitted on or before February 13 will not be affected.

The one-off ex-gratia cash allowance for locally confirmed COVID-19 patients has been introduced since November 27, 2020, as a temporary measure to provide one-off ex-gratia cash assistance to infected persons who have to be hospitalised in public hospitals due to COVID-19. As at January 27, 2023, a total of 2 728 eligible persons have received the allowance.

With the Government's adjustment to the anti-epidemic measures, the public is gradually resuming normal daily lives. The ex-gratia cash allowance scheme will cease.

Eligible persons should submit their applications on or before February 13. Late applications will not be accepted. Applicants may contact the medical social services units of the public hospitals for enquiries.

Please refer to the press release for details

The Political Assistant to the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Ken Yip, has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test today (December 26). He is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH).

Mr Yip last went to work on December 23. He wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work, including conducting daily rapid antigen tests. He has no recent travel history.

The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, has been taking polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests or rapid antigen tests every day and the results are negative.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Treasury said today (December 24) that the Director of Accounting Services, Ms Susanna Cheung, has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test. She is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Ms Cheung last went to work on December 20. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work, including conducting rapid antigen tests regularly. She has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

The Hospital Authority spokesman said today (December 24) that the Cluster Chief Executive of New Territories East Cluster, Dr Chung Kin-lai, has tested positive for COVID-19. He is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Dr Chung last performed duties yesterday (December 23). He wore masks and followed relevant infection control measures at work, including conducting daily rapid antigen testing. He has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said today (December 23) that a driver of the office has tested positive for COVID-19 through a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid (PCR) test last night (December 22).

The driver is responsible for driving duties for the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Mr Cheung Kwok-kwan. The driver does not need to have contact with the public and has no recent travel history. He wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. He last performed duties on December 22.

Please refer to the press release for details

The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson said today (December 23) that Director (Quality and Safety), Dr Michael Wong, has tested positive for COVID-19. He is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Dr Wong last performed duties yesterday (December 22). He wore masks and followed relevant infection control measures at work, including conducting daily rapid antigen testing. He has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Government Flying Service (GFS) said today (December 22) that the Controller of the GFS, Captain West Wu, has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test (RAT) today. He is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Captain Wu has conducted an RAT every day. He tested negative for COVID-19 through an RAT before going back to the office yesterday (December 21). He wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. He has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the President of the Legislative Council (LegCo) said today (December 22) that the LegCo President Mr Andrew Leung has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test (RAT) today. He is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Mr Leung conducts RAT everyday. He tested negative for COVID-19 through RAT before going back to the LegCo Complex yesterday (December 21). He wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Development Bureau (DEVB) today (December 22) said a staff member of the Bureau had tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test.

The officer is the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary for Development. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. She has no recent travel history and last went to work on December 20.

The Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, has been taking COVID-19 rapid tests every day and the results are all negative. She also tested negative for COVID-19 through a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test yesterday (December 21).

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) said today (December 21) that the Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Miss Vivian Lau, has tested positive for COVID-19. She is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Miss Lau last went to work on December 15. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work, including conducting polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests and rapid antigen tests regularly. She has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

The Hospital Authority spokesman said today (December 21) that the Hospital Chief Executive of Ruttonjee and Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals; Tung Wah Eastern Hospital; and Cheshire Home, Chung Hom Kok, Dr Lau Ka-hin has tested positive for COVID-19. He is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Dr Lau last performed duties yesterday (December 20). He wore masks and followed relevant infection control measures at work, including conducting daily rapid antigen tests. He has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Official Receiver's Office said today (December 21) that the Official Receiver, Ms Phyllis McKenna, has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test. She is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Ms McKenna last worked in office on December 20. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. She has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) said today (December 20) that the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Alice Lau, has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test. She is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Ms Lau last went to work on December 16. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work, including conducting polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests and rapid antigen tests regularly. She has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Labour and Welfare Bureau today (December 20) said a staff member of the Bureau had tested positive for COVID-19 through through a polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test.

The officer is the Press Secretary to the Secretary for Labour and Welfare. The officer wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. He has no recent travel history and last went to work yesterday (December 19).

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau today (December 19) said a staff member of the Bureau had tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test.

The officer is the Press Secretary to the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs. The officer wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. She has no recent travel history and last went to work on December 16.

Please refer to the press release for details

A spokesman for the Education Bureau (EDB) said today (December 19) that a staff member of the EDB has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test. She is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

The staff member is the Political Assistant to the Secretary for Education, Ms Siu Ka-yi. She wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work and conducted daily rapid antigen tests. She has no recent travel history. She last went to work on December 16.

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, and the Under Secretary for Education, Mr Sze Chun-fai, have been taking COVID-19 rapid tests every day and the results are all negative.

Please refer to the press release for details

The Judiciary said today (December 18) that the Chief Justice of the Court of Final Appeal, Mr Andrew Cheung Kui-nung, has tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test. He is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Mr Cheung last went to work last Friday (December 16). He wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work, including conducting daily rapid antigen tests. He has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

The Hospital Authority spokesperson said today (December 15) that the Hospital Chief Executive of Bradbury Hospice, Cheshire Home, Shatin and Shatin Hospital, Dr So Wing-yee, has tested positive for COVID-19. She is undergoing isolation in accordance with the guidelines of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

Dr So last performed duties yesterday (December 14). She wore masks and followed relevant infection control measures at work, including conducting daily rapid antigen testing. She has no recent travel history.

Please refer to the press release for details

The Deputy Financial Secretary's Office said today (December 14) that a driver of the office had undergone a rapid test and the result was positive for COVID-19.

The driver is responsible for driving duties for the Deputy Financial Secretary, Mr Michael Wong. The driver does not need to have contact with the public and has no recent travel history. He wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work. He last performed duties on December 9.

Please refer to the press release for details