'More Convenient To Get Test Pack At MTR Stations'

Some people who picked up a free Covid specimen collection pack at MTR stations said on Monday they liked the arrangement and found it convenient.

From Monday, members of the public could use their Octopus card to get a sample pack from vending machines at 10 MTR stations, but they will need to return their samples to designated outpatient clinics in order to receive their test results.

The stations are North Point, Wong Chuk Hang, Kowloon, Kwai Fong, Tsing Yi, Ngau Tau Kok, Tiu Keng Leng, Tai Wai, Tai Po Market and Siu Hong.

The vending machines are located in the station’s unpaid area, and each station distributes around 1,000 packs per day.

The MTR Corporation says around 6,500 kits had been distributed by 11:30am. The MTR mobile app shows that all 10 stations still had stock by noon.

At Tai Wai station, people were seen queuing up at the vending machine there during the morning rush hour. Staff said they had to refill the machine after around 350 packs were snapped up within two hours.

There were also queues at times at Tiu Keng Leng station.

Several security staff were there to offer assistance and asked people to maintain social distancing. A number of police officers were also on standby monitoring the situation.

Near the vending machine, a notice showed a QR code which people could use to find out where they could submit their sample bottles.

Sing, a mother of two who lives in the area, said she came to get testing kits for her two children as a precaution.

“My two kids, their school has two infections. So I came down to take the bottle just for precaution. At the same time, my block also has one infection. That’s why I came down,” she said. “It’s actually very convenient, rather than I go to the clinic to queue up to collect the bottle.”

But she said she might choose not to return the sample bottles because she and her children haven't shown any symptoms.

She said her children would only need those test results if their school asked for proof of their health before the resumption of classes.

The MTR said anyone with symptoms, or who has had contact with a Covid patient, should not use the service. They should go straight to a hospital instead.

A man surnamed Wong, who also used the new service, said he came to grab a testing pack because a person living in his block had come down with the virus.

While he’s not worried about getting infected, he said his boss wanted him to get tested before returning to work.

He was pleased with the new arrangement.

“The last time I went to the clinic, I saw there were so many people queuing for testing. So it’s quite surprising that today there aren’t so many people here to take the test kit,” he said. “Near the clinic there is so many virus. MTR is much safer.”

While the MTR Corporation says each person should only get one testing kit, some got more than one using more than one Octopus card or by simply returning to the queue.