The Government launched the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) on September 1 to provide a one-off free testing service for members of the public at 141 community testing centres. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, accompanied by the Commissioner of the Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS), Dr Constance Chan, and the Chief Staff Officer of AMS, Mr Alex Wong, visited the community testing centre at Sheung Wan Sports Centre today (September 4) to inspect the operation of the centre and give encouragement to the staff members.
Mr Cheung was first briefed on the manpower allocation and the design of the centre. He then viewed the testing workflow.
He said he was pleased to see that the response to the UCTP has been favourable, noting that as at 11am this morning, over 917 000 persons had made appointments since August 29 when the online booking system opened while the turnout rate of the community testing centre at Sheung Wan Sports Centre is also high.
He expressed his thanks to the AMS representatives who provided services on site. To support the Government's implementation of the UCTP, the AMS arranged swab training for 200 volunteer members. Since September 1, it has been providing services at four testing centres (including that at Sheung Wan Sports Centre), where four doctors, 25 nurses and 30 members with related training work daily to collect combined nasal and throat swabs at the 35 swabbing booths of the four testing centres for testing.
He said that the support of the AMS is indispensable in the anti-epidemic work of the Government. Apart from actively participating in testing centre work, the AMS also helps in escorting persons under quarantine to the quarantine centres as well as rendering support to the Department of Health at the quarantine centres for medical services.
In addition, Mr Cheung chatted with the healthcare personnel and other staff members of the centre, expressing his appreciation for their participation and dedication, which has contributed to the smooth operation of the UCTP and the anti-epidemic work.
He stressed that the entire testing process is safe, quick and convenient, while the design and workflow of the centre had been drawn up in accordance with infection control and social distancing measures.
"After reviewing the experience of the operation of the UCTP and public demand, the Government decided to extend the programme period for four days to September 11 to enable more people to receive tests," he said.
He also appealed to members of the public to actively participate in the UCTP to protect oneself and others, saying that the more people participate in the programme, the higher the chances of identifying asymptomatic COVID-19 patients in the community for early isolation and early treatment. That will help break the invisible transmission chains in the community so that social and economic activities can resume gradually and people's daily lives, including travel and tourism, can return to normal.
For details of the UCTP, please visit the dedicated website at www.communitytest.gov.hk.
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