Rapid Tests May Be Used To Gauge Infection Status: CE

Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Thursday said the government would make use of rapid test kits to be distributed to all Hong Kong residents to gauge the city's latest Covid-19 situation.

The test kits will be included in anti-epidemic packs that are set to be handed out to all Hong Kong households from this weekend.

Speaking at her daily Covid briefing, Lam said although the daily coronavirus caseload has dropped below 7,000, the figure is still high.

Lam said it is not the right time yet to carry out a universal testing exercise, which would require all residents to take PCR tests for the virus.

But she hinted that residents would be asked to carry out self tests using rapid test kits.

"Can we make use of this relatively accurate and convenient tool to find out Hong Kong's infection status within a short period of time? We will make an announcement soon," she said.

The anti-epidemic packs will also include KN95 masks and proprietary Chinese medicine.