The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) launched the "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test" (the System) today (March 7). People who have tested positive by Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) can register direct their results via the platform, to facilitate the CHP to grasp the epidemic situation more accurately as well as to provide more appropriate support for patients with higher risks.
The Government earlier announced that members of the public who tested positive by RAT, whether distributed by the Government or on their own purchase, should be considered positive cases and avoid going out. The Government today launched the System for people to register RAT positive results to enable speedier assistance to people tested positive. The link to the System is www.chp.gov.hk/ratp.
Individuals are required to submit the relevant information via the System, including details of their RAT, personal information, details of their household contacts, as well as symptoms and household environment.
After completing the initial reporting, relevant individuals will receive an SMS with a link and they have to use the link to upload supporting documents (photo of the RAT result and identity document). After successfully uploading the documents, they can download their isolation order issued by the CHP in accordance with the law through the link. Based on the information submitted, the CHP will conduct follow-up actions, including arranging medical support by the Hospital Authority (HA), admission to hospital, community treatment facilities or community isolation facilities (CIFs). Based on the information reported, the CHP will also send SMS to their household contacts who will need to submit their identification document with the link provided in the SMS. The household contacts can download their quarantine order, issued by the CHP in accordance with the law, through the link after uploading the required document.
Meanwhile, the CHP will also arrange nucleic acid test on a random basis for some of the cases. Testing contractors will visit the residence reported by the cases and obtain nasal swap sample for verification.
People who obtained positive results through RAT on or after March 6 can report via the System. All reporting must be done on the day of testing or the day after. In other words, people who obtained positive results through RAT on March 6 can report on March 7, whereas those who obtained positive results on March 7 can report on March 7 or March 8. Members of the public are encouraged to report their positive RAT results at once to facilitate the speedy follow-up of the CHP. The Government will arrange the distribution of electronic wristband and anti-epidemic kit for the declared persons as soon as possible. However, it is anticipated that there would be a large amount of people making the declaration in the initial stage after the launch of the System, the distribution of materials may take a longer time. Members of the public may obtain anti-epidemic information and assistance at the Government's thematic website, the 24-hour "StayHomeSafe" hotline (1833 019) set up by the Home Affairs Department, as well as hotline of the HA (1836 115).
A special arrangement has been made for those who tested positive through RAT from February 26 to March 5. They can submit their information within one week after the System is launched today (i.e. on or before March 14). After registration, retrospective isolation order or quarantine order for 14 days, with effect from the date they obtained positive results, would be issued as proof to the individuals and their household contacts. As it has already been a while since they obtained positive results, the CHP believed that these patients are in a more stable condition or even recovered. Therefore, no active medical follow-up will be arranged. However, the CHP encourages these patients to make a report to allow the Government to grasp the trend of the local epidemic situation.
Also, the isolation and quarantine arrangement of RAT positive persons are the same as those tested positive by nucleic acid test. The arrangement announced by the Government earlier regarding early discharge from isolation for infected persons and discharge from quarantine facilities or home quarantine for close contacts is also applicable to people tested positive through RAT, provided that they have received at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
The CHP encourages members of the public to report via the online platform. If individuals encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 1836 119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure. As cases received by the hotline need to be handled by officers in person, the handling time will be longer than cases reported online.
A spokesman for the CHP reminds that the System launched today is dedicated for people who obtained positive results through RAT for the first time. If they have conducted nucleic acid tests at community testing centres or other laboratories recognised by the Government and received an SMS notification of their positive results, they should use the link in the SMS to report their personal information and those of household contacts. Even if they have also obtained RAT positive results before or after the nucleic acid tests, they need not and should not register with this platform.The DH has updated the thematic website (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) to provide more useful information.
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