Members of the Rugby Harbour team are exempted from quarantine and must stay in a hotel for 14 days but are allowed to train at the King's Park Stadium

The Russian consulate, who was exempted from quarantine, had a preliminary diagnosis, and the incident again triggered controversy over quarantine loopholes.

In fact, 17 members of the Hong Kong Men’s Rugby Sevens team, including 3 coaches, 1 physiotherapist and 13 players, represented Hong Kong earlier in the World Rugby Sevens Series held in Canada on September 28. After returning to Hong Kong, the government approved the "exemption from quarantine" on the grounds that the team members need to continue training to cope with future competitions. Although 17 people need to stay in the designated quarantine hotel for 14 days, they can go to the King's Park Stadium for training during this period.

The Home Affairs Bureau stated that in view of the actual need for team members to continue high-intensity training to maintain their physical and technical levels, and to cope with the upcoming international competitions, including the Asian Rugby Sevens series to be held on November 19 this year, so Obtained "Exemption from Quarantine" by the Chief Secretary for Administration.

Experts believe that the King's Park Stadium will also be open to the public, and there is a risk that the virus will be spread to hotel staff and the public when players go out for training.

Seventeen members of the Hong Kong men’s sevens team, including 3 coaches, 1 physiotherapist and 13 players, were granted exemption from quarantine by the Hong Kong government.

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The South China Morning Post reported on this Sunday (10th) that members of the Hong Kong men’s Rugby Sevens team were granted exemption from quarantine by the Hong Kong government. “Hong Kong 01” checked with the Home Affairs Bureau on Monday and received a reply to confirm the incident last night. The quarantine involved 17 people, including 3 coaches, 1 physical therapist and 13 players.

According to the bureau, they will return to Hong Kong on September 28 after representing Hong Kong in the "2021 World Rugby Sevens Series" held in Canada.

Canadian competitions have implemented strict infection control measures

The bureau emphasized that the series is conducted under the "bubble" arrangement of strict infection control measures. Measures include requirements for testing, temperature taking, wearing masks, quarantine accommodation, quarantined point-to-point traffic arrangements, and social distancing regulations.

All members have been vaccinated and tested negative at the local airport.

The Hong Kong Rugby Association also confirmed that no confirmed cases have been detected in Canadian matches under the "bubble" arrangement.

▼October 15th, Grand Promenade 1 closed area inspection▼

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Members must stay in designated quarantine hotels except for designated isolation training

The bureau pointed out that team members actually need to continue high-intensity training to maintain their physical and technical levels and cope with upcoming international competitions, including the Asian Rugby Sevens series to be held from November 19 to 26 this year.

The Chief Secretary for Administration has considered the team’s infection risk in Canada, the anti-epidemic measures that will be taken during isolation training, and the team’s actual training needs. Based on the public interest, he approved the quarantine exemption for the team’s 17 players.

The condition for exemption from quarantine is that they must stay in designated quarantine hotels in addition to participating in the isolation training arranged by the Hong Kong Sports Institute within 14 days after returning to Hong Kong, and must abide by a series of strict anti-infection control measures, including daily temperature checks. , And comply with the virus testing requirements set by the government.

According to the bureau, isolation training must be conducted at the designated training venue, namely the King’s Park Stadium; the venue must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before and after training; during training, it cannot be used by people other than the team, and it is temporarily closed to the public; team members Point-to-point designated transportation must be used to go to and from the designated quarantine hotel and training venue. The transportation must also be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

However, the bureau did not disclose how many times the 17 people had trained at the King's Park Stadium in 14 days.

Respiratory system specialist Liang Zichao is worried that when players go out for training, there is also the risk of spreading the virus to hotel staff and the public.

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Liang Zichao: Players "in and out" pose a risk to hotel staff

Respiratory system specialist Liang Zichao said that although players undergo regular testing within 14 days and invisible patients can be detected, players will "in and out" and will leave the room, go through corridors, lobbies, and take a special car, which will inevitably quarantine the hotel. Staff poses a risk.

Although the King’s Park Stadium will be disinfected, the facilities will always be shared with the public. I don’t know how long the King’s Park Stadium will reopen after the players leave. “How long does it take to ensure that there is no residual air (virus)?” It also brings certainty to the public. risk.

He believes that it would be better for athletes to have exclusive training venues, but if they cannot be arranged, they should also be arranged to go out for training 7 days after their arrival in Hong Kong, "because most of the cases were discovered in the first 7 days," and athletes should Take a quick antigen test before going out to avoid spreading the virus to teammates and affecting them to continue training and participating in competitions.

Last night, a 55-year-old member of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was initially diagnosed. He was also a person exempted from quarantine. After arriving in Hong Kong, he self-quarantined at his residence in Grand Promenade. , The Mainland may be worried about Hong Kong’s arrangements for foreign defense imports. Once the Mainland is wary of Hong Kong, it will affect the progress of negotiations on customs clearance.

He Boliang: The Hong Kong government's quarantine exemption criteria are not transparent enough. The mainland will be worried about the new crown pneumonia when discussing the docking.

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