Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu (center) meets the media after visiting the community isolation facility constructed with the central government's support at Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu inspected newly built community isolation facilities in Tsing Yi on Tuesday as the center started admitting its first batch of COVID-19 patients.

The facilities, constructed with the support of the central government, is open for service one day after its construction was completed within just one week on Monday.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu (second right), Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chen Dong (second left), and Chairman and Non-executive Director of the China State Construction International Holdings Limited Yan Jianguo (third left) attend in a handover meeting before visiting the community isolation facilities in Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Lee said the Tsing Yi facility symbolizes the united fight against the epidemic, and the week-long fast construction is nothing short of a miracle.

Designed and built by China State Construction International Holdings Ltd, the project took a total workforce of over 1,800 people, including about 300 mainland employees and over 1,500 Hong Kong workers, who had been working around the clock since Feb 22.

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Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu (center) receives briefings from staff members of the contractor as he visits the community isolation facilities constructed with the central government's support in Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The center, with the capacity of accommodating about 3,900 patients, is a combination of modular cubicles, with each room equipped with basic furniture and bedding, air conditioner, smoke detector, and fire extinguisher.

At around 7 pm local time, Xinhua reporters saw vehicles, each carrying one confirmed patient, drive into the facility one after another. The patients were then accompanied by staff in protective clothing to go through the check-in procedures.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu has a conversation with Civil Aid Service's personnel and gives them words of encouragement as he visits the community isolation facilities constructed with the central government's support at Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The facility, covering an area of about 60,000 square meters, is the first of its kind completed since the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic began in the HKSAR.

The facility will admit asymptomatic or mildly ill patients, and early isolation of those diagnosed can reduce the risk of infecting others and help break the chain of transmission in the community, Lee said on Tuesday during a visit to the compound.

Meanwhile, site formation has been completed for HKSAR's five temporary community isolation facilities. Two permanent projects at Penny's Bay and Kai Tak Pier are also in progress.

On Tuesday, Hong Kong registered 32,597 new COVID-19 cases and 117 deaths, official data showed.  

With Xinhua inputs

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu (1st right) talks to medical and nursing staff of the Hospital Authority as he visits the community isolation facilities constructed with the central government's support at Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu (front right) gives words of encouragement to works personnel as he visits the community isolation facilities constructed with the central government's support at the site in San Tin, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. Lee also visit facilities built in Tsing Yi and Lok Ma Chau on the same day.

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu (right), accompanied by Secretary for Development Michael Wong (left), and Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Ricky Lau (center), views the construction of isolation facilities in Lok Ma Chau, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee Ka-chiu  (front row, second right), accompanied by Secretary for Development Michael Wong (second row, second left), and  Director of Architectural Services Winnie Ho (front row, first left), receives a briefing from a representative of the contractor on the construction of facilities in San Tin, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022.  (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

The first batch of occupants register for accommodation at the community isolation facilities in Tsing Yi, Hong Kong, March 1, 2022. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

An aerial view of the community isolation facilities in Tsing Yi. (EDMOND TANG / CHINA DAILY)