Public Exam Candidates Wake Early For Rapid Tests

Long lines of students formed outside schools on Friday morning as they were hustled to comply with special anti-Covid measures put in place for this year’s university entrance exams.

Before they were allowed in, students were required to show the negative results of self-administered tests along with their admission forms and health declaration forms, as well as have their temperature checked.

An exam candidate at the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong Secondary School said he had to get out of bed earlier than usual to do a rapid antigen test.

“The result of the rapid test doesn't come out immediately. You have to wait. It’s very troublesome. The worst part is that I have to get tested every day, it's not like you can just do it once,” he said.

“[But] since I wake up earlier, I can jumpstart my studies.”

Authorities said candidates who test positive for Covid must inform them by 6.30am.

A student surnamed Leung told RTHK that he woke at 6am to do the test but could still easily have missed the deadline if he tested positive, because it took 20 minutes for the test to show result.

The school principal, Chow Sau-leuk, said four to five pupils were held up briefly because they had not filled in health declaration forms and had to complete the document at the gate.

He said more staff will be assigned to do the checks for the rest of the exams, and this will hopefully shorten the queues.

The headmaster also advised students to arrive an hour earlier to go through the procedures, settle down and do their final revision before the exam.

The exams end on May 14 and the results will be released on July 20.