Covid Testing Services Disrupted Due To Storm

The government has suspended its various testing centres and specimen collection points across the territory due to the No 8 signal which has forced a shut down most of the city.

The Home Affairs Department said its centre for collecting deep throat saliva samples from Thai people in Kowloon City will be suspended for the day. Services will be reopened between 9am and noon tomorrow.

The Department of Health also said its 13 chest or dermatological clinics designated for collecting deep throat saliva samples will also be suspended for the day.

Meanwhile, the government said the four temporary testing centres set up from Saturday to find asymptomatic Covid patients will remain closed.

They are the Harbour Road Sports Centre in Wan Chai, the Shek Lei Community Hall in Kwai Chung, Kai Tak Community Hall in Kowloon City and Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre.

Testing services for foreign domestic helpers waiting to join their new employers' family at Harbour Road Sports Centre will also be suspended.

The Labour Department said the services could resume within two hours after the No 8 signal is cancelled and when weather and traffic permit.

Domestic helpers affected can call a hotline to reschedule their appointment when services resume.

The Transport Department said that 11 temporary centres for distributing swab self-sampling kits and collecting specimens for taxi and minibus drivers has been suspended.

It said if the No 8 storm signal is lowered before 2pm, the centres will be reopened shortly after that.