(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

Penny's Bay Quarantine Centre is expected to start service as a community isolation facility as early as next week for COVID-19 patients with mild or no symptoms as part of the contingency plan to cope with the worsening epidemic situation.

The Government made the announcement as Hong Kong reported a record 351 COVID-19 cases today.

Director of Health Dr Ronald Lam told a press briefing this afternoon that the home quarantine arrangement will be implemented in the coming week at the earliest, under which those in the same household as close contacts of confirmed cases may be quarantined at home instead of at a facility.

“We will only put those who have a similar risk level at the same location. For example, the household members of the close contacts, they could conduct a four-day quarantine at home together, whereas the close contacts would be still undergoing a 14-day quarantine at the quarantine centres.

“If this is not feasible due to the capacity issue of the quarantine facilities, the close contacts may conduct the 14-day quarantine together at a designated place. But then that means the whole family would have to undergo the 14-day quarantine.”

Dr Lam added that the home quarantine arrangement will be based on a risk assessment, including whether the person's dwelling place is suitable for quarantine as well as their age and vaccination status.