8 December 2021
To Licensees / Persons-in-charge of Places of Public Entertainment /Temporary Places of Public Entertainment
Extension on Using "LeaveHomeSafe" Mobile Application Arrangements
The Secretary for Food and Health has issued latest directions under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), including extending the compulsory use of the "LeaveHomeSafe" (LHS) mobile application to all scheduled premises. The Government announced the above LHS arrangement that will take effect on December 9, in order to implement the earlier announcement made on November 23.
In view that COVID-19 mutant strains are spreading extremely fast globally, the Government must stay vigilant and adopt stringent epidemic control measures to follow through on the anti-epidemic strategy of guarding against the importation of cases and the resurgence of domestic infections in order to attain the goal of dynamic 'zero infection'. To enhance the efficiency and precision of tracing, assessing exposure risk and testing upon identification of confirmed cases, it is necessary to implement the relevant measures with a view to enhancing the epidemic control capacity to protect members of the public.
The Arrangement on Use of LHS Mobile Application
At present, some catering business premises and scheduled premises regulated under Cap. 599F have already implemented the requirement of mandatory use of the LHS mobile application by customers or users. With effect from December 9, the requirement will be applicable to all scheduled premises under regulation, including places of public entertainment. The requirements, the related form and the FAQ have been uploaded onto the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's “vaccine bubble” thematic webpage.
According to the latest arrangement, customers or users of places of public entertainment must scan the LHS venue QR code using the LHS mobile application before entering the premises. Having considered that some individuals are unable to meet the requirement of using of the LHS mobile application due to reasonable reasons, the following three categories of persons may fill in a specified form as an alternative to the use of the LHS mobile application:
- persons aged 65 or above and aged 15 or below;
- persons with disability; and
- other persons recognized by the Government or organization(s) authorized by the Government as eligible for the above arrangement.
Only in respect of a person aged 15 or below who is unable to use the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application, if his/her adult accompanying person has used the “LeaveHomeSafe” mobile application to scan the relevant venue QR code or used the specified form to register relevant information in accordance with the relevant requirements, he/she would not have to register the relevant information using the specified form.
It is of utmost importance that licensees and operators of premises should always observe and comply with the latest directions in a concerted and persistent manner. The FEHD would take stringent enforcement actions against offenders in defiance of legislation on prevention and control of diseases as well as environmental hygiene and food safety issues.
Early Vaccination for All!