'Elderly Home PCR Rule Too Difficult For Some'

Elderly Commission member Grace Li on Friday expressed concerns about the ability of elderly people to comply with new anti-Covid requirements when they visit people at care homes.

The government announced on Thursday that from August 1, visitors to care homes for the elderly and the disabled will have to take a PCR test and provide a negative result obtained within 48 hours of their planned visit.

But speaking on an RTHK programme, Li – who is also the CEO of a care home – said many people who frequent such facilities are themselves not young, such as those who go to visit their spouse.

She said having to get a PCR test every time in advance may be asking too much of some visitors.

“After the rules are tightened, they have to do PCR tests at community centres. Sometimes the results take longer than 24 hours to come back. Previously, some of our staff don’t get the results within 24 hours. So, for some elderly people who don't know how to make online bookings, or those who don't know how to go about it, I believe it'd be difficult,” she said.

The government had also announced that care home staff will be required to undergo PCR tests every week, instead of every fortnight.

Li said some operators had hoped the government would send personnel to collect specimens directly from care home staff, but the administration has said it is not planning to do this.

Instead, it will leave behind kits for staff to take their own specimens, before returning to collect them all together.

Li said while this is a convenient option, she’s worried that the staff may make mistakes in collecting sample by themselves.