Covid Testing Facilities Swamped As Demand Surges

Coronavirus testing facilities appear to be getting swamped as demand for the screenings surge amid the latest outbreak and the government on Monday appointed more private hospitals and laboratories to cater to the demand.

RTHK visited the websites of the labs offering coronavirus tests and called up a number of hospitals, including Baptist, Gleneagles and the Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, and all of these institutions either said they’re fully booked for the day and even for the week, or didn’t pick up the calls at all.

The two private laboratories – Chan & Hou Medical Laboritories and E-group – also said they’re full and will only conduct testing on cases referred by private doctors. They expect results to be out in at least three to four days.

Pressure is also mounting tremendously for the Department of Health’s testing facilities.

One RTHK reporter who's asked to undergo a Covid test after a resident in her residential block came down with the virus, said she submitted her sample last Thursday but has not received her results as of Monday.

She said she finds the situation concerning.

"As much as I understand authorities now take more time to conduct the tests, it would be better if they can announce the results quicker so that we know whether we pose a threat to public health," the reporter said.

"The timely announcement will also help me and my family better plan our work arrangements," she added.

Authorities had set up sample collection centres to enable high-risk individuals, like taxi drivers, to give specimen for Covid tests.

The government has said it will provide free tests for around 400,000 high-risk people, covering taxi drivers, staff at restaurants, elderly care homes and property management firms.