A pedestrian walks past a bathhouse in Hong Kong on Sept 18, 2020. (ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Department of Health has apologized after a staff member of the Indian consulate was mistakenly exempted from quarantine and allowed to go home before he tested positive for COVID-19.

In a press release issued on Monday, a spokesperson for the department said the 25-year-old man entered Hong Kong from India on Oct 15 with a proof of a negative coronavirus test result. 

The 25-year-old man entered Hong Kong from India on Oct 15 with a proof of a negative coronavirus test result

Center for Health Protection officials at the Hong Kong airport determined that the consular staff was exempted from quarantine arrangements. He has his deep throat saliva sample collected at the airport and was allowed to leave.

He returned to his residence in a car arranged the consulate and was placed under medical surveillance for 14 days. 

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He was later tested positive for the virus and transferred to a public hospital for isolation and treatment.

Upon reviewing the case, the CHP was informed by a relevant government department that the man does not belong to a rank that can be exempted from compulsory quarantine requirements even though he is a consular staff.

Under existing policy, people arriving from specified high-risk places should undergo compulsory quarantine at a hotel.

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The department has reminded relevant staff to be prudent when handling quarantine exemption arrangements to avoid similar incidents in the future.