​The Department of Health (DH) announced today (November 16) that Temporary Specimen Collection Centre Two (TSCC-2) set up by the DH at the T1 Satellite Concourse of Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will commence operation on November 18. Together with the current Temporary Specimen Collection Centre One (TSCC-1) set up at the T1 Midfield Concourse, travellers arriving from places of different risk levels can be effectively segregated.
Starting from November 18, TSCC-2 will be dedicated for travellers arriving in Hong Kong from the Mainland via the airport, while TSCC-1 will handle travellers arriving in Hong Kong from Taiwan and overseas areas.
Currently, all travellers arriving in Hong Kong via HKIA are required to proceed to the TSCC at HKIA immediately upon arrival. Combined nasal and throat swabs will be collected from the travellers by dedicated staff for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing. They are required to stay at the TSCC to wait for test results before they can proceed with immigration procedures ("test and hold").
A spokesman for the DH reiterated that amid the severe pandemic situation across the world, the Government strives to protect public health and at the same time foster favourable conditions for resuming cross-boundary travel with the Mainland and cross-border travel in future. To this end, the various anti-epidemic measures to prevent the importation of cases and the spreading of the virus in the community should be kept up.
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