Background
With an increasing number of parents traveling overseas to bring children back to Hong Kong for Christmas, questions have arisen regarding what happens if a child (or adult) tests positive upon their return and whether the family will be split up.
Please note that this is a rapidly evolving situation with regular updates and changes to the government’s position, which appears to be fluctuating on an almost day-to-day basis. The information provided here is based on our latest enquiries with officers at the Centre for Health Protection, which is the relevant section under the Hong Kong Department of Health. Readers are advised to take make enquiries and take advice at the time of travel to Hong Kong.
Current Position
Under current government guidelines and based on extensive enquiries with the Centre for Health Protection, the following procedure will be adopted if a child tests positive upon returning to Hong Kong:
- The child will be sent to the nearest public hospital, which currently is the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre for those testing positive at the Hong Kong International Airport, to be isolated.
- If the parent (or any accompanying sibling) tests positive as well, they too will be sent to the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre to be isolated.
- If the parent (and/or any accompanying sibling) tests negative, they will be considered a close contact of the confirmed case and will be sent to quarantine at the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre1.
- Under all three scenarios above (including where both parent and child test positive), the parent and the child will initially be separated. However, each of them will be given a Quarantine Order Card which will have relevant details pertaining to their isolation / quarantine, including a hotline number. The number can be used for any and all enquiries relating to the relevant isolation / quarantine stay, including emergency healthcare. However, the officers we spoke with said they were not permitted to provide the hotline number except to affected individuals at the relevant time.
- In cases where a parent wishes to isolate together with their child, they will have to make a request directly to the Officer (“DO”) (usually from the Department of Health) using the hotline. It is at the sole discretion of the DO to grant permission to the parent to isolate together with their child/children. The Centre for Health Protection officers we spoke with said that to date, they have not handled any cases of arrivals in Hong Kong involving a positive test and a child under 16 years old.
- It is not possible to write and seek prior permission from the DO (i.e., before arrival and subsequent positive confirmation of Covid-19) to isolate with any other person, including children. All such cases are decided on a case-to-case basis at the discretion of the DO.
- In cases where a parent wishes to isolate together with their child, they will have to make a request directly to the Officer (“DO”) (usually from the Department of Health) using the hotline. It is at the sole discretion of the DO to grant permission to the parent to isolate together with their child/children. The Centre for Health Protection officers we spoke with said that to date, they have not handled any cases of arrivals in Hong Kong involving a positive test and a child under 16 years old.
- As of 27 October 2021, recovered Covid patients discharged from Hong Kong public hospitals (regardless of whether the patient has travelled into Hong Kong) must undergo a further 14-day isolation period at the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre.
- In the past, the Centre for Health Protection has granted permission for parents to quarantine with children who were considered close contacts of confirmed cases (e.g., Discovery Bay International School). However, these were cases where the child/children did not test positive, and the parents/guardians were in Hong Kong already (i.e., had not travelled outside Hong Kong for 14 days).
Key Takeaways
Individuals who test positive on arrival in Hong Kong must isolate at the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre. However, the confirmed case(s) (whether adult or child) will be separated from the close contact family members travelling with them. It is possible to apply to be isolated and ‘roomed’ together but this would be decided on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the DO. For the time being, there are no clear guidelines or criteria (such as age of children etc) for the application and approval process, which can only be done on arrival in Hong Kong.
1 Officials previously told us that the North Lantau facility would also be used for quarantine purposes because the Penny’s Bay Quarantine Centre was at full capacity. However, additional quarantine spaces have now been created at the Penny’s Bay facility and so this will be used instead.
Contacts
Matthew Durham, Registered Foreign Lawyer
Tel +852 3405 7688
matthewdurham@gallhk.com
