Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines - 2 November 2021

Dear Staff and Students,

We would like to share the following message from Department of Health about Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines.

Health and Safety Office

Dear Sir/Madam,

Updated information on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccines

1. Conditional free COVID-19 testing service continues for targeted groups

The Government is progressively arranging various types of working staff with higher risk of exposure to the virus to undergo more frequent regular virus testing as a strengthened measure to guard against the importation of cases and the resurgence of local infections. The arrangement is applicable to all full-time and part-time staff of relevant industries. As the Government no longer accepts deep throat saliva specimen for compulsory or regular testing, the testing of all targeted group persons (whether they have completed a vaccination course or not) must be done by using combined nasal and throat swabs.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202110/29/P2021102900750.htm

2. Government appeals to public to take note of opening hours of Community Vaccination Centres

Starting from November 1, the CVCs will operate from 10am to 6pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and will be closed on Wednesdays. On Saturdays and Sundays, the opening hours will be from 8am to 8pm. All CVCs will close between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on working days for cleaning.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202110/31/P2021102900294.htm

3. Government updates list of places of recognised vaccination records

The Government will accept the vaccination records issued by Argentina and Armenia as recognised vaccination records for Hong Kong residents who have stayed in Group A specified places for boarding flights for Hong Kong. The relevant arrangements will take effect at 0.00am on November 3 (Wednesday).

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202111/01/P2021110100544.htm

4. Government announces comprehensive tightening of quarantine exemption arrangements

The Government announced that quarantine exemption arrangements will be comprehensively tightened with effect from November 12. Monitoring on exempted persons will also be strengthened. The new measures to be implemented include:

(1) Cancellation of quarantine exemption arrangements for most of the exemption categories of persons upon their arrival in Hong Kong; and
(2) Requiring consular and diplomatic officers to be subject to self-isolation at designated quarantine hotels (DQHs) upon their arrival in Hong Kong. Home isolation is not allowed (except for consuls general or representatives in Hong Kong at equivalent/higher level).

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202111/01/P2021110100531.htm

5. 35th round of compulsory testing for staff members of RCHEs, RCHDs and nursing homes to commence shortly

The Government announced that the 35th round of compulsory testing for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes would commence shortly.

For details, refer to: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202110/29/P2021102800525.htm

More information on COVID-19 vaccines:

www.covidvaccine.gov.hk/en/

We would like to solicit your support to disseminate the information to your colleagues, work associates and/or business partners so that they could adopt proper preventive measures. Thank you very much for your support.

Department of Health

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敬啟者：

2019冠狀病毒病及疫苗的最新資訊

1. 政府繼續為特定群組提供有條件的免費2019冠狀病毒病檢測

政府正陸續安排各類暴露於病毒風險較高的工作人員接受更加頻密的定期病毒檢測，以加強「外防輸入、內防反彈」的防疫措施。有關安排適用於所有全職及兼職的相關行業員工。因應政府不再接納深喉唾液樣本作強制或定期檢測，所有特定群組人士（不論是否已完成接種疫苗）的檢測均須以鼻腔和咽喉合併拭子樣本進行。

詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202110/29/P2021102900626.htm

2. 政府呼籲市民留意社區疫苗接種中心開放時間

由十一月一日起，社區疫苗接種中心的開放時間為逢星期一、星期二、星期四和星期五上午十時至下午六時，而星期三全日休息。逢星期六及星期日的開放時間為上午八時至晚上八時。所有疫苗接種中心運作日的下午一時半至二時半為清潔時間。

詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202110/31/P2021102900285.htm

3. 政府更新認可疫苗接種紀錄地區名單

政府將認可阿根廷及亞美尼亞發出的疫苗接種紀錄作為曾於A組指明地區逗留的香港居民用作登機來港的認可疫苗紀錄。相關安排將由十一月三日（星期三）凌晨零時起實施。

詳情可參閱 : https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202111/01/P2021110100542.htm