EMSD arranges free COVID-19 testing for lift and escalator trade practitioners

     The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (August 25) announced that, starting from tomorrow (August 26), free COVID-19 testing will be arranged for lift and escalator trade practitioners.
 
     A spokesman for the EMSD said, "To strengthen anti-epidemic work, the Government has rolled out free COVID-19 testing services for high-risk target groups. Taking into account the specific circumstances of lift and escalator trade practitioners, the Government will extend the free target group testing services to them. The EMSD will distribute self-sampling kits via the registered lift and escalator contractors (registered contractors) to their employees, i.e. registered lift and escalator engineers and workers, as well as general workers and apprentices. These practitioners should take deep throat saliva samples by themselves and return the samples to the testing agency via their employers for testing."
 
     The spokesman said registered lift and escalator engineers or workers who are not employed by the registered contractors can take their valid registration cards to the EMSD Headquarters during designated periods from August 27 for registration and collection of self-sampling kits. Details of the arrangement and locations of the sample collection points are posted on the EMSD's website (www.emsd.gov.hk).
 
     The testing is voluntary and free of charge. Practitioners who participate in the scheme should register online at the following government website: www.tgptest.gov.hk (website service will commence tomorrow). The testing agency will not obtain the personal data of the participants. Cases with positive results will be relayed to the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
 
     Since the beginning of the epidemic, the EMSD has been in close liaison with the lift and escalator trade and has proactively reminded registered contractors to take appropriate action in keeping up periodic maintenance and examination work for lifts and escalators to ensure that the facilities are repaired properly and kept in safe working order. The department has also reminded the registered contractors that they must provide suitable protective equipment to workers in respect of their work environment to safeguard the occupational safety and health of the practitioners.
 
     For the health of the practitioners and to stop the spread of the virus, the EMSD strongly appeals to the practitioners to participate in the testing scheme, continue to comply with the Government's regulation to wear masks, and maintain personal and environmental hygiene continuously.
 
     For details of the testing scheme, please call the hotline of the EMSD at 2808 3121 or the testing agency at 2114 2281, or visit the EMSD website (www.emsd.gov.hk).