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What is the definition of close contacts?
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The latest Government definition of Close Contact is as follows: https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html#testPositive
The determination of close contacts will take into consideration relevant details of the situation. In general, tracing period is counted from two days before symptom onset date of the confirmed case; for asymptomatic case, it is counted from two days before the date of collection of specimen which tested positive. Close contacts refer to:
• Persons who live with the confirmed case in the same household
• Persons who have had face-to-face close contacts with the confirmed case (especially when the confirmed case did not wear a mask, such as when having meals together)
Student hostels are not typical household, the above criteria are used as reference for determining close contacts in hostels. Since the COVID situation is developing very rapidly, please refer to the above webpages for the latest updates.