Microbiologist: HKers Won't Want To Waste Free Test

A University of Hong Kong microbiologist has cast doubt on the likely effectiveness of the mass coronavirus testing project the government plans to launch as soon as next week.

Siddharth Sridhar says the government's offer of mass testing, which will be supported by teams of specialists from the mainland, will not be like similar exercises carried out north of the border, as it isn't taking place with the SAR under a full lockdown and is not compulsory.

"I would see this more as an attempt to improve test availability in Hong Kong," Sridhar told RTHK's Mike Weeks. "So, it may fulfil some of the effects that a mass testing would perform but it doesn't actually fall under the umbrella of an actual mass testing, simply because it's voluntary."

The government says it's hoping up to five million people will take up the opportunity of a free test, but Sridhar said he expected many people to pass on it.

"How many people actually take up the offer is yet to be seen. I would think that the mentality would be: hey, if I don't have symptoms and I only have one free test I don't want to waste the mass test, in a way.

"So it depends on how many people do the test in terms of how effective it is."

The government announced the mass testing scheme on August 7, warning that up to 1,500 people could be carrying Covid-19 without knowing it. It said mass testing of high-risk groups showed that one in every 2,500 of the 130,000 people tested was carrying the virus.

Several public health experts have questioned the effectiveness of mass testing at a time when people are still able to move around the SAR.