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 - No positive COVID-19 cases were detected after the Hong Kong government wrapped up targeted testing operations in Tuen Mun and Lantau Island on Wednesday morning. 

The government set up a “restricted area” at Twilight Court, Peninsula Village, 2 Caperidge Drive in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island at 7 pm Tuesday after a resident of the building was confirmed to be infected with a mutant strain earlier in the day. 

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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 for a mutant strain. 

The government finished the targeted testing in Discovery Bay at 6 am Wednesday. Around 210 residents were tested by around 1 am but no new cases were found. 

There were 30 households that did not answer the door when government staff members knocked. They were later reminded to have themselves tested. 

In Tuen Mun, 515 residents were tested as of 12:30 am and there were also no new cases detected.  

The government had set up specimen collection stations in the restricted areas. Residents were required to stay in their flats until all of them had 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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