CE’s Office worker preliminary positive for Covid

A man who works in Chief Executive Carrie Lam’s office has tested preliminary positive for Covid-19, though the government said the staffer has not had any direct contact with the CE or members of the public during the course of his work.

The CE’s Office said in a statement on Tuesday that the man’s colleagues were also getting tested, and the office’s premises had been disinfected.

It did not mention what position the employee held, whether the CE was also getting tested, or whether anyone in the office needed to be quarantined.

The office said the man, who was last at work on Monday, will hand in a deep throat saliva sample to the Department of Health as soon as possible to confirm his infection.

Separately, the New People’s Party said the chauffeur of its chairwoman Regina Ip tested preliminary positive for the coronavirus late on Monday.

The party said the lawmaker had thereafter done two rapid tests which came back negative, and she will do a deep throat saliva test as per the advice of Health Secretary Sophia Chan.

Ip said she will be working from home and attending virtual Legco meetings in the meantime.