HAD distributes complimentary COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff in Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, North District, Tai Po, Kwai Tsing, Yuen Long and Kowloon City (with photos)

     In light of the positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from some sewage samples collected in Sham Shui Po, Kwun Tong, North, Tai Po, Kwai Tsing, Yuen Long and Kowloon City Districts, the Home Affairs Department (including the Sham Shui Po District Office (SSPDO), the Kwun Tong District Office (KTDO), the North District Office (NDO), the Tai Po District Office (TPDO), the Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO), the Yuen Long District Office (YLDO) and the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO)) today (February 25) distributed a total of about 52 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits (rapid test kits) to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the districts.

     The SSPDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Lai Tong House of Lai Tsui Court, Cheung Sha Wan for voluntary testing through the owners' corporation and the property management company, and distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Mei Yick House, Mei Yin House, Mei Sang House and Mei Shing House of Shek Kip Mei Estate through the property management company.

     The KTDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Chi Tai House of On Tai Estate and Sau Wai House, Sau On House and Sau Chi House of Sau Mau Ping Estate for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The NDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Tin Hee House of Tin Ping Estate, Sheung Shui for voluntary testing through the Estate's Management Office.

     The TPDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Kwong Fuk Estate for voluntary testing through the property management company.

     The K&TDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff working in Fu Yin House and Fu Keung House of Tai Wo Hau Estate for voluntary testing through the Housing Department and the Estate's property management company.

     The YLDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Yiu Shing House, Yiu Hing House and Yiu Yat House of Tin Yiu (I) Estate and Yiu Lung House of Tin Yiu (II) Estate and cleansing workers and property management staff working in Kingswood Villas for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     In addition, the KCDO distributed rapid test kits to cleansing workers and property management staff working in Kai Ching Estate 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.