The Hong Kong Jockey Club (The Club) was informed by a Member shortly after midday today that an attendee at the race meeting held at Happy Valley Racecourse on 5 January, 2022 has tested preliminary positive of COVID-19. This information has been confirmed by the Center for Health Protection in its press conference this afternoon.
The Club emphasises a high importance regarding the protection of our employees and customers. As soon as the Club was made aware of this incident, the Club has taken immediate actions to track the visiting records of the concerned Member and traced the Members, customers and employees who were in the vicinity. As a result, we have identified two Members were in the same box with the concerned Member on 5 January and both made bookings at Sha Tin Racecourse today because they had starters. The Club has immediately contacted them and required one of them not to attend the race meeting and the other to leave the racecourse immediately. Regarding those employees who have served in the concerned venue immediate actions have been taken to send them home and they will not be rostered for duties until further notice in accordance of Club’s policy. In addition, we have made arrangements for the concerned employees to receive the COVID-19 tests as soon as possible starting from today.
The Club has been implementing stringent measures for race days with regular review based on the latest developments of COVID-19. In view of the increasingly challenging external situation resulting from the fast spreading Omicron variant, the Club had already further reduced the attendance of today’s race meeting to only 240 and they were arranged at two persons per table.
In light of the continuous deteriorating external pandemic situation, the Club will seek the approval from the government authority to further restrict upcoming race meetings to a closed-door mode on 12, 16 and 19 January, without the attendance of any customers. Only Licensed Persons, Racing Officials and those who are required to work on site to ensure the smooth and safe operations of the race meetings with integrity preserved will be allowed to be present at the racecourse.
The Club would like to thank horse owners, Members and the public for their understanding and patience.
