New mobile specimen collection station set up in Ma On Shan

     The Government is very concerned about a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reported at Kam Fung Court, Ma On Shan, recently. Starting today (December 11), the Government has arranged for a testing agency, BGI, to set up a mobile specimen collection station at the volleyball court of Chung On Estate to provide a testing service for residents and workers of Kam Fung Court. Operating hours will be daily from 10am to 8pm. Tentatively, the mobile specimen collection station will operate until December 14 (Monday). 
 
     On December 9, the Government exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) and published in the Gazette a compulsory testing notice that requires any person who had been present at Kam Wai House, Kam Fung Court, for more than two hours at any time during the period from November 17 to December 9 (including but not limited to visitors, residents and workers) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test by December 14. The mobile specimen collection station will accord priority to provide a testing service for residents and workers of Kam Wai House who are subject to compulsory testing.

     The Government will decide whether it is necessary to extend the operation period of the mobile specimen collection station after reviewing the usage of the station and the public's demand for the testing service.

     Moreover, starting today (December 11), the mobile specimen collection station set up at the badminton court of Richland Gardens, Kowloon Bay, will also be open to all residents and workers of Richland Gardens for testing, while according priority to provide a testing service for those residents and workers of Richland Gardens who are subject to compulsory testing.

     Through mobile specimen collection stations set up earlier in Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Kwai Shing, Tung Chung and Kowloon Bay, the Government has been providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for members of the public. The opening dates and operating hours of the existing mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing services for the general public are in the Annex.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "The testing agency will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection station in Ma On Shan for residents and workers of Kam Fung Court for testing free of charge."
      
     Persons who are subject to compulsory testing and undergo testing at the mobile specimen collection stations will be deemed to have undergone a test at a community testing centre. People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive COVID-19 result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.

     The spokesman urged all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.