Tsing Yi isolation facility opens

The government has on Tuesday commenced operation of a new isolation facility in Tsing Yi, admitting people diagnosed with Covid-19 having no or only mild symptoms.

The Tsing Yi site is the first of a number of isolation facilities that Beijing is helping to build amid the fifth wave of Covid infections in Hong Kong.

The facility - which took seven days to construct using shipping containers - will provide up to 3,900 beds. Each isolation unit will consist of three beds, and those who stay there will have to share toilets and bathrooms.

The Civil Aid Service and other disciplined services departments will help run the facility. 

Top government officials including Chief Secretary John Lee Ka-chiu, hailed the speedy construction of the facility after a site visit this morning.

He said authorities have brought in staff who had previously operated other isolation facilities to ensure smooth operation at the site.

Medical workers will also station at the facility to cater to residents’ needs, Lee added.

The Tsing Yi site is one of the four makeshift hospitals in Hong Kong to provide around 14,000 to 17,000 units for isolation purposes. The remaining three will be located in San Tin, Tam Mei and Hung Shui Kiu.

The Development Bureau earlier announced that the Architectural Services Department had signed a cooperation agreement with the China State Construction International Holdings Limited on eight projects for the construction of community isolation and treatment facilities.

The eight projects, including the Tsing Yi makeshift hospital, will be funded by the SAR government.

The seven other facilities will be located in Penny's Bay, former runway area of Kai Tak, San Tin, Tam Mei, Hung Shui Kiu, Fanling North New Development Area, and a site on the southeastern part of the Hong Kong Boundary Crossing Facilities Island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.