HAD distributes complimentary COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff in Islands, Kwai Tsing, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin, Yuen Long and Southern Districts (with photos)

     In light of the positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Islands, Kwai Tsing, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin, Yuen Long and Southern Districts, the Home Affairs Department (including the Islands District Office (IsDO), Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO), Kwun Tong District Office (KTDO), Sha Tin District Office (STDO), Yuen Long District Office (YLDO) and Southern District Office (SDO) today (February 24) distributed a total of about 73 520 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the districts.
 
     The IsDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Mun Shun House and Mun Hong House of Mun Tung Estate, Yu Yat House of Yat Tung (I) Estate, and Kit Yat House, Chui Yat House, Yuet Yat House, and Kui Yat House of Yat Tung (II) Estate for voluntary testing through the property management companies.
 
     The K&TDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Shek Lei (I) Estate in Kwai Chung for voluntary testing through the Housing Department (HD) and the property management company.
 
     The KTDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Sin Tat House, Shing Tat House and Him Tat House for voluntary testing through the property management company of On Tat Estate.
 
     The STDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Heng Fung House of Heng On Estate, and Chung Wo House and Chung Kwan House of Chung On Estate in Ma On Shan for voluntary testing through the HD and the property management companies.
 
     The YLDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Far East Consortium Yuen Long Building, Pearl House, Chun Chu House and residential premises around the area, as well as to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Golden Plaza for voluntary testing through the property management companies and district organisations.
 
     In addition, the SDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Aberdeen Centre for voluntary testing through the property management company.
 
     The Home Affairs Department made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early, so as to better protect the infected persons and their families. However, the Government stresses that rapid test kit testing is not a substitute for the Government's compulsory testing requirement.
 
     If people living or working in the areas with positive sewage testing results test positive with the rapid test kits, they may call 2280 4772, the Government's 24-hour hotline for "persons tested positive with rapid antigen tests in areas with positive sewage testing results", to arrange for door-to-door delivery of nasal swab self-sampling kits and collection of the specimen for polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid confirmatory testing free of charge.

     For more information on rapid test kits, please view the following demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health: www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk.
 
     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.