Press Release

Person in custody at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre preliminarily tests positive for COVID-19

     The Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre (LCKRC) of the Correctional Services Department (CSD) today (September 5) learned that a person in custody has preliminarily tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

     In view of the latest development of the COVID-19 epidemic, all the newly admitted persons in custody will be put under isolation and will undergo medical surveillance. The medical officer at institution seconded from the Department of Health will conduct COVID-19 testing for them where necessary.

     On August 21, the court ordered to remand a 54-year-old male at Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre for psychiatric reports. In accordance with the established mechanism, the institution management put him under isolation together with another newly admitted person in custody in the same cell. Throughout the course of isolation, they had no contact with other persons in custody. Their body temperature were normal when undergoing temperature screening.

     On September 4, the 54-year-old person in custody was escorted to the West Kowloon Magistrates' Court for hearing and was subsequently sent to LCKRC. Upon arrival at the institution, he was found to have physical discomfort and fever. The institutional management then sent him to a public hospital for in-patient treatment, and was notified this morning that he was tested preliminarily positive for COVID-19. The person in custody has been wearing surgical masks while leaving or entering the institutions.

     The person in custody put under isolation in the same cell with the 54-year-old person in custody is asymptomatic. His isolation and medical surveillance will continue. The CSD has liaised with the Centre for Health Protection to arrange for those officers and persons in custody to undergo COVID-19 testing. Thorough cleaning and disinfection has also been arranged immediately for the locations concerned.

     The CSD is highly concerned about the epidemic of COVID-19 and has remained highly vigilant since the epidemic broke out. 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 wear masks and check body temperatures. 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.

Ends/Saturday, September 5, 2020
Issued at HKT 15:00