Quarantine for helpers mooted

July 7, 2020

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan：
In the recent two weeks, we have (seen) cases coming from, for example, the Philippines and Indonesia that have been confirmed positive in terms of the coronavirus. So this is one thing.

Another thing is that - much of the situation in Hong Kong especially (given) the flats are very small - in order for foreign domestic helpers who come to Hong Kong to have effective quarantine, it is important for them to have a place that actually fulfils the Department of Health’s guidelines and also requirements, that are they should have a single room and do not share toilets, etc. 

Therefore, we have discussed that it is important for them to first come together in a designated place for quarantine and hotels would be one of the places that are suitable in terms of this purpose. 

Secondly, it is also important for the employers to require, before they come to Hong Kong, that they would have this pre-boarding testing or pre-arrival testing, so that we know that they have at least tested negative at the time before they come to Hong Kong.

Of course, after they arrive in Hong Kong we will still test them.

(To watch the full media session with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan said hotels may be used as designated places for foreign domestic helpers to undergo quarantine when they come to Hong Kong.

She told the media tonight that there have been confirmed COVID-19 cases involving people coming from the Philippines and Indonesia in the recent two weeks.

As flats in Hong Kong are small, she said it is important to ensure quarantine facilities for foreign domestic helpers fulfill the Department of Health’s guidelines and requirements.

"Therefore, we have discussed that it is important for them to first come together in a designated place for quarantine and hotels would be one of the places that are suitable in terms of this purpose.

"Secondly, it is also important for the employers to require, before they come to Hong Kong, that they would have this pre-boarding testing or pre-arrival testing, so that we know that they have at least tested negative at the time before they come to Hong Kong," she added.