According to the Security Bureau, 220 people have indicated they will leave the facilities on Monday, while a number of infected residents told the Post they planned to remain until they tested negative or their seven days were up.

Clara Leung, a 41-year-old mother, said she went into the Penny’s Bay camp to care for her seven-year-old son after he contracted the virus. They had left after nine days, but her husband and their 10-year-old daughter, who had been there for four days, would stay until the girl tested negative, she said.

“It’s actually great to have Penny’s Bay, as we all feel safer going into isolation,” she said. “We have all caught Covid twice, but at least not at the same time. My husband and two kids were all fine when I caught Covid last November and came here for the isolation.”

Leung added she was also looking after her elderly father, who had previously contracted the virus, and lived with them.

“My father in his 70s is already suffering from long Covid, and he’s very afraid of catching the virus again,” she said. “It’s easier to take care of my daughter in the isolation room. We don’t have to disinfect the washroom every time we use it.”

If her daughter was still infected on Wednesday, when their seven-day allotment ended, they would have to consider renting a hotel room, she said.

According to a staff member at Penny’s Bay, residents can leave after midnight provided they have notified the camp in advance. They are not required to test negative for Covid-19 before leaving, but they cannot return.

Currently, a shuttle bus offers rides to Tsing Yi MTR station at 10.30am and 5.30pm, but staff said an extra 12.30am slot could be arranged upon request.

Authorities dropped all social-distancing measures on December 29 and resumed quarantine-free travel with the mainland on January 8, which leaves only two major anti-epidemic measures in place – the mask mandate and mandatory testing for arrivals, students and care home residents.

In announcing the end to the five-day isolation requirement more than a week ago, the government said the coronavirus would be treated as a regular upper respiratory tract infection.

From Monday, asymptomatic patients will be allowed to return to work, but health authorities have advised them to avoid mass gatherings to reduce the risk of transmission. Infected students, however, are not allowed to go back to school until they test negative.

Room to ease tests for cross-border travellers exists: Hong Kong ex-leader

Going forward, health authorities will also only disclose infections logged via polymerase reaction chain (PCR) tests as an online portal where residents could declare a positive result using a rapid antigen test (RAT) will shut down. Officials will continue to disclose the daily number of deaths related to the virus.

The city recorded 3,283 infections on Sunday, including 111 imported cases, taking the total to 2,876,106, as well as 20 related deaths, putting the tally at 13,333.

Public telemedicine consultations will also cease on Monday, but residents can seek treatment at more than 70 general outpatient clinics, where the daily quota of visits will be capped at 2,000.

Private sector doctors can issue related medical certificates, and a list will govern which can prescribe needed oral drugs. Traditional Chinese medical practitioners can also give infected residents the necessary documentation.

During the worst of the pandemic, Hong Kong was also isolating infected people at facilities at Kai Tak, Tsing Yi, San Tin, Fanling, Hung Shui Kiu, Yuen Long and on the artificial island that supports the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. A makeshift hospital was also built at the Lok Ma Chau Loop.

But they all sit idle now, and health minister Lo Chung-mau earlier said the government would consider using the facilities for other purposes. Some lawmakers have suggested turning the rooms into dormitories, homes or healthcare training facilities.

Hong Kong bosses taking no chances with infected staff even as isolation is axed

Meanwhile, Tam, Hong Kong’s delegate to the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, said he was hopeful the remaining travel curbs could be scrapped in the coming days.

“It should come very soon, possibly in a few days,” he said, adding his optimism was based on comments he heard by the city’s No 2 official Eric Chan Kwok-ki.

He also hoped the land crossings at Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau could reopen as soon as possible.

Chief Secretary Chan said he had been talking with mainland authorities during the New Year holiday about the next phase of the border reopening.

“I have always raised the issue with mainland friends when I texted them or rang them for New Year greetings, with the hope to bring good news to the people as soon as possible,” he said.

Additional reporting by Ng Kang-chung and Zhao Ziwen