The local COVID-19 epidemic situation is worsening rapidly. The confirmed cases are distributed all over the territory. Some of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic and this indicates the existence of many silent transmission chains in the community.
The Government is very concerned about a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reported at Kwai Tung House, Tung Tau (II) Estate recently. Starting from December 15, the Government will arrange for a testing agency, BGI, to set up a mobile specimen collection station at the badminton court and volleyball court of Tung Tau (II) Estate (near G/F, Kwai Tung House) to provide testing service for residents and workers of Tung Tau (II) Estate. Operating hours will be daily from 10am to 8pm. Tentatively, the mobile specimen collection station will operate until December 19 (Saturday). The Government will decide whether it is necessary to extend the operation period of the mobile specimen collection station after reviewing the usage of the station and public's demand for the testing service.
Through mobile specimen collection stations set up earlier in Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tung Chung, Kwai Shing and Kowloon Bay, the Government has been providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for members of the public. After reviewing the usage and public's demand for the testing service, the Government has decided to extend the services of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts and open the stations to all members of the public for testing.
Starting from December 15, the Temporary Testing Centre set up earlier by the Social Welfare Department at Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground (No. 2 Soccer Pitch) will also extend service until December 21 and convert into a mobile specimen collection station open to all members of the public for testing. The mobile specimen collection station set up at the volleyball court of Chung On Estate, Ma On Shan will cease operation after December 14 as scheduled.
The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing services for the general public are at Annex.
A Government spokesman said, "The testing agencies will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations for testing free of charge. Persons who are subject to compulsory testing and undergo testing at the mobile specimen collection stations will be deemed to have undergone a test at a community testing centre. The mobile specimen collection stations will accord priority to provide testing service for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing."
People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a positive COVID-19 result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.
The spokesman urged all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases) to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.
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