Omicron｜Labour Department calls on FDHs to observe group regulations on holidays and strengthen inspections in Victoria Park and other places on Sunday

The mutated virus of COVID-19 Omicron has entered the community, and more than one community group has emerged. The number of foreign domestic helpers who have been diagnosed with the spread of the virus by the "Victoria Garden Dancing Group" is increasing.

It is Saturday and Sunday that foreign domestic helpers are on holiday. On Friday (7th), the Labour Department reminded foreign domestic helpers to pay attention to and follow the mandatory testing announcement, receive free COVID-19 testing in a timely manner, and call on them to abide by the social distancing measures announced by the government.

The Labour Department, the Police Force and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department strictly enforce the law at the gathering places for foreign domestic helpers on Sundays

A spokesman for the Labour Department said that according to the government's announcement on compulsory testing, anyone who has been at a specified location during a specified period and time period must complete multiple compulsory tests on time. The latest information has been released to foreign domestic helpers through various channels including the consulate general of the foreign domestic helper's source country in Hong Kong, foreign domestic helper and employer groups, and employment agency organizations.

The Labour Department also appealed to employers to remind foreign domestic helpers that they are required to undergo testing if they are at specified locations during specified periods and periods.

FDHs can go to community testing centers or mobile sampling stations for testing.

The Labour Department will work with the Police and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department on Sundays in January to conduct multi-language presentations in various districts where FDHs often gather, including Central, Admiralty Tamar Park, Causeway Bay Victoria Park, Lai Chi Kok Park and other places. Conduct mobile broadcasts to appeal to foreign domestic helpers to abide by relevant regulations.

Relevant departments will take enforcement action against those who still fail to comply with the regulations after repeated persuasion.

The spokesman reminded that according to the gathering restriction order and the mask order, group gatherings of more than four people in public places, or failing to wear masks as required, may be subject to a fixed fine of 5,000 yuan.

Failure to comply with a mandatory testing order is punishable by a fine at level 4 of $25,000 and six months' imprisonment.

Labour Department urges foreign domestic helpers to stay at home

The Labour Department reminds foreign domestic helpers to strictly abide by the relevant regulations, and calls on them to stay at home as much as possible to avoid gatherings on rest days and holidays, including gatherings in accommodation facilities, sharing food and engaging in other social activities, in order to protect their personal health and reduce the risk of virus infection , and encourage employers and FDHs to discuss rest day arrangements to avoid health risks from social activities.

At the same time, employers are reminded not to force foreign domestic helpers to work on rest days. If an employer forces foreign domestic helpers to work on rest days or does not grant them a rest day without the foreign domestic helper’s consent, it is a violation of the Employment Ordinance and can be prosecuted. , upon conviction, can be fined up to $50,000.

Victoria Park to set up two large-scale mobile sampling stations

The Food and Health Bureau stated that in response to the surge in demand for testing in many places on Hong Kong Island, the government has set up two large-scale mobile sampling stations in Victoria Park to provide free testing to citizens who live in or have visited high-risk locations.

The two sampling stations are located at (1) Victoria Park Music Pavilion (near MTR Causeway Bay Station and Gloucester Road Exit) and (2) Victoria Park Handball Field (near MTR Tin Hau Station and Hing Fat Street Exit), the service hours are in the morning From 10:00 to 8:00 pm; there are also multiple mobile sampling stations at Lockhart Road Playground in Wanchai, Causeway Bay Community Centre near Fortress Hill Station, and North Point Community Hall. Additional sampling stations are also set up in Tamar Park, Admiralty.

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