The local COVID-19 epidemic situation is worsening rapidly. The confirmed cases are distributed all over the territory. Some of the confirmed cases are asymptomatic and this indicates the existence of many silent transmission chains in the community.
The Government is very concerned about a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reported recently at Tak Tai Building in Tai Wo Hau and Block A, Ming Wah Dai Ha in Shau Kei Wan. Starting from today (December 22), the Government has arranged for testing agencies to set up mobile specimen collection stations at the following locations to provide free testing service for respective residents and workers:
| New mobile specimen collection station | Operating hours of first day (December 22) |
| Tai Wo Hau Sports Centre (ONCO Medical Laboratory Limited) |
2pm to 8pm |
| Basketball Court, Block A, Ming Wah Dai Ha, Shau Kei Wan (only for residents and workers of Ming Wah Dai Ha) (Prenetics) |
noon to 8pm |
With effect from tomorrow (December 23), operating hours of all the abovementioned mobile specimen collection stations are standardised from 10am to 8pm, and they will tentatively operate until December 27 (Sunday). The Government will decide whether it is necessary to extend the operation period of the stations after reviewing their usage and public's demand for the testing service.
Separately, as there are several COVID-19 confirmed cases in Lei Sang House of Lei Yue Mun Estate, the Community Testing Centre in Yau Tong Community Hall extends free testing service to residents and workers of Lei Yue Mun Estate up to December 27 (Sunday) tentatively. Its operating hours are daily from 8am to 1.30pm and 2.30pm to 8pm. It provides booking as well as on-site registration services. Members of the public are only required to input simple personal information, and select the testing centre and time slot in the 24-hour appointment booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk). The centre accords priority to those who make bookings in advance.
After reviewing the usage and public's demand for the testing service, the Government has decided to extend the service periods of the mobile specimen collection stations at Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po, Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin Square, Tung Chung North Park and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground to December 25 (Friday). With effect from today (December 22), the mobile specimen collection station at the open space outside King Tsui Court, Chai Wan will open to all residents and workers of King Tsui Court and Fung Wah Estate, up to December 24 (Thursday) tentatively. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are at Annex.
A Government spokesman said, "The testing agencies will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations 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. The mobile specimen collection stations will accord priority to provide testing service for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing."
People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive 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.
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