HK Teachers To Be Offered Free Covid-19 Tests

Hong Kong teachers will be offered free Covid-19 tests from next week, Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Tuesday.

Lam said all teaching staff at primary, secondary, and special schools as well as kindergartens will be given the opportunity to get tested, as the government beefs up its infection-control measures.

Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, she also said that the 46 government clinics handing out test kits will extend their service hours.

All of them will now also operate on Saturdays, and eight will also open on Sundays and public holidays too, to make it more convenient for people to pick up or return specimen bottles.

The CE also said that four private laboratories have won tenders to run four community testing centres which will provide tests for targeted groups on behalf of the government.

These centres will also offer paid tests for individuals at a cost of HK$240 – lower than the market price.

Meanwhile, the SAR's current social distancing measures will be extended for another week because the coronavirus situation hasn't improved further, the CE said.