Tougher Testing Rules For Care Home Staff, Visitors

The government announced on Thursday that care home staff and visitors will be subject to tougher Covid testing requirements soon.

From July 27, people working at care homes for the elderly and the disabled will be required to take PCR tests once a week, instead of every fortnight.

On top of that, care home workers are still required to undergo daily rapid antigen tests and obtain negative results before going to work, so as to safeguard the safety of staff and residents.

As for visitors, they will have to take a PCR test and provide a negative result within 48 hours of a visit from August 1.

Those visiting care homes currently only have to test themselves before entering the facilities.

In addition, they are required to comply with the government's vaccine pass requirements starting from August 28.

But those who need to make emergency visits based on compassionate grounds will only have to undergo RATs in the designated area of care homes, as well as provide a negative PCR test result within two days after the visits.

"Due to the continued occurrence of confirmed cases among residents and/or staff members in residential care homes under the recent fluctuating epidemic situation, the government after careful consideration will implement new visiting and staff testing arrangements to safeguard the health of residents, staff and visitors," the Social Welfare Department said in a statement.

The government said it understood the new measures would bring some inconvenience, but called on the public for cooperation with the aim of protecting care home residents.