CE Urges Mass Participation In Universal Virus Tests

The Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday urged the people to make use of a free coronavirus test being offered by the government as she confirmed the exercise will start from September 1.

Covid-19 testing centres will be set up across all districts in Hong Kong and run from 8am to 8pm. People will have to make appointments online and register their names, identity card and mobile phone numbers.

Qualified medical workers will take both nasal and throat swabs from the participants.

Those who test negative for the virus will receive an SMS message notifying them of the result, while people who test positive will be contacted by staff from the Department of Health for follow up treatment and isolation.

Irrespective of whether they are in a vulnerable group or not, everyone should take advantage of this opportunity to test for the virus, said Lam. The CE said she and other top officials will be providing specimens to encourage people to follow suit.

Lam dismissed doubts cast on the effectiveness on such universal tests. She said health experts in the panel that is advising the government on handling of the epidemic had backed such tests to rein in the outbreak.

Lam said that officials will brief lawmakers about the government’s efforts to tackle the Covid-19 outbreak in a special Legco meeting next Friday.

The CE urged the people to bear with the strict social distancing measures in place now, as the coming week is a critical period to assess whether the drop in new Covid-19 cases is sustainable, or if there will be a rebound.

She said officials are holding discussions with the catering sector about arrangements to be put in place when the social distancing rules can be relaxed. She said initially, dine-in services at restaurants could be resumed in the evenings with restrictions, as well as cinemas, beauty parlours and some sports venues.

Lam also said the central government would help add another community treatment centre with 1,000 beds at Asia World Expo on Lantau within a few weeks.

Mainland authorities will also help build a two-storey temporary hospital with 800 beds equipped with negative pressure facilities on a site next to Asia World Expo in four months.

Meanwhile, the Development Secretary, Michael Wong, said the mainland authorities will pay for the Lantau facility. He said the Shenzhen government will hire a Hong Kong construction company to carry out the works in accordance to the city’s standards.

The facility will be run by the Hospital Authority once it is on stream.