Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan inspected Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre today to learn more about its preparation in tackling the COVID-19 epidemic and ensure a contingency plan is in place for a possible change in the epidemic situation.

Prof Chan was briefed by Civil Aid Service and Department of Health colleagues on the centre's current operation, including the number of units, the latest occupancy rate, the arrangement of suitable units to cater for different needs of people, and the enhancement in cleaning efficiency to increase the units' turnover rate.

She pointed out that the global pandemic situation is rapidly worsening due to the Omicron variant and the number of imported cases in Hong Kong is on the rise.

According to figures from the Centre for Health Protection, more than 90% of the confirmed cases recorded on December 26 and 27 were related to the Omicron variant.

In view of the growing threat posed by Omicron, the Government will continue to impose the most stringent measures in guarding against the importation of relevant cases.

Overseas places where Omicron cases have been detected that may lead to local transmission and exportation of cases will be specified as Group A specified places.

The Government will also impose more stringent and enhanced surveillance measures on Group A places from which imported Omicron cases were detected.

Those measures include requiring people arriving in Hong Kong to undergo compulsory quarantine at a quarantine centre for the first four days and get tested daily in the first seven days upon arrival.

The health chief said she noticed that Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre, as a key quarantine facility in Hong Kong and a crucial line of defence against the importation of cases, has geared up in preparation and implemented response measures.

She also noted that the centre's workload has become much heavier these days given the rising number of people arriving in Hong Kong and close contacts of confirmed cases staying there.

Prof Chan thanked colleagues from various departments serving in the centre for their dedication and devotion to work in the fight against the pandemic.