A 38-year-old foreign domestic helper who arrived in Hong Kong from the United States with a variant virus was allowed to quarantine for only seven days because she had been vaccinated and tested for antibodies. However, the fact is that she took blood in the United States 5 days before arriving in Hong Kong and sent it back. A Hong Kong test showed that the staff of the Department of Health did not find that the foreign domestic helper was in the United States when the blood was drawn.
When asked whether the staff of the Department of Health were negligent, Lin Wenjian, director of the Center for Health Protection, said Monday (16th) that he would investigate whether the test report specified the sampling date.
However, "Hong Kong 01" found that the government had already provided the tester with a template of the test report, stating that the report must include the date of sample collection.
It is understood that Bai Li, the laboratory involved this time, also followed the report format and submitted it to the Department of Health.
When the reporter enquired with the department again, he received a reply "No Supplement".
The foreign domestic helper with the mutant virus walked into the community. She took blood in the United States and sent the sample back to Hong Kong to detect antibodies. The quarantine period was reduced to seven days.
(Profile picture)
The template provided by the Department of Health to the industry stated that the antibody test report should show the date of blood draw.
(The template of the government's anti-epidemic website)
The government is determined to boost the COVID-19 vaccination rate. Earlier, it was proposed that those who had completed the vaccination and had antibodies tested, the quarantine period for those returning to Hong Kong from medium-risk areas was greatly reduced from 21 days to 7 days.
The 38-year-old maid left Hong Kong in mid-June. She took blood in the United States on July 27 and sent it back to Hong Kong for testing. She arrived in Hong Kong on August 1 with a positive antibody report.
The Hong Kong government said earlier that the case was taken overseas and sent back to Hong Kong for testing, and severely criticized the situation as unacceptable.
I was asked why the staff of the Department of Health did not notice that the maids were in the United States when they were taking the blood when they checked the foreign domestic helper's antibody report.
Lin Wenjian, director of the Center for Health Protection, said on Monday (16th) that it needs further investigation to find out if the sampling date is listed in his report.
However, in fact, the government has provided the laboratory with an antibody test report format, which includes the date of sample collection of immigrants.
Some testing companies said that the general testing company will list the sampling date in the report, especially the company that has obtained ISO certification, it must also list the sampling date.
It is understood that the Baili Medical Laboratory involved also followed the format and listed the sampling date of the foreign domestic helper.
A tester said that the "sample collection date" can be understood as the "blood draw date" or "the date the laboratory received the blood sample", but in this incident, both dates must be July 27 to August During the 1 day, that is, the time the maid is in the United States.
"Hong Kong 01" then asked the department to check whether the report specified the date of the blood draw and whether the department staff had any negligence of duty. The department responded today and pointed out that there was no supplement.
A blood sample of a confirmed foreign domestic helper sent back to Hong Kong for antibody testing. The laboratory involved blew up. The foreign domestic helper was referred by a private clinic. The confirmed foreign domestic helper was sent by air to the United States. Antibody Test Food and Health Bureau: Unacceptable, do not rule out taking action
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