Staff members check whether a person in the "restricted area" has undergone compulsory testing in the enforcement operation as health officials conduct a compulsory testing at Jovial Court, Peninsula Village in Discovery Bay, Nov 21, 2021. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT)

HONG KONG – The Hong Kong government set up on Tuesday evening “restricted areas” in Tuen Mun and on Lantau Island respectively as the risk of COVID-19 infection in the areas was assessed to be likely higher.

In statements issued in the evening, a spokesman for the government said a restricted area was set up at Twilight Court, Peninsula Village, 2 Caperidge Drive in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island at 7 pm Tuesday as a person who has lived in the building was confirmed to be infected with a COVID-19 mutant strain earlier in the day. 

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The 46-year-old Cathay Pacific aircrew member arrived in Hong Kong from the US on flight CX843 on Christmas Day, according to the Centre for Health Protection. He carried the N501Y and T478K mutant strains — indicators that he could be an Omicron case. He has received two shots of the BioNTech vaccine in June and July and has remained asymptomatic. The government aimed to finish the exercise at around 6 am Wednesday.

The government has set up specimen collection stations in the two restricted areas. Residents are required to stay in their flats until all of them have undergone compulsory testing and the test results are mostly ascertained, the government said

Another restricted area was set up at Tower 1, The SeaCrest, 1 Hang Kwai Street in Tuen Mun at around 8 pm after a resident who has lived there tested preliminary positive to a mutant strain. The government aimed to complete the exercise at around 7 am the next day.

The government has set up specimen collection stations in the restricted areas. Residents there are required to stay in their flats until all of them have undergone compulsory testing and the test results are mostly ascertained, the government said.

"We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the 'restricted area' as soon as possible," the spokesman said.

The spokesman added the government will arrange for door-to-door specimen collection for people with impaired mobility and elderly persons.

In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees, the spokesman added.

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