The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (May 6) announced that residents of all residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs)/ nursing homes in Hong Kong will undergo nucleic acid testing in phases, with a view to further achieving "early identification, early isolation and early treatment", and preventing transmission of the COVID-19 virus. The first phase of the special testing started today involves 89 homes.
The Government has arranged designated testing companies to deliver the testing kits to the RCHEs/nursing homes. Staff members of the homes are required to take nasal samples from all their residents. Those who had received positive results from nucleic acid tests or rapid antigen tests within three months before this testing are exempted. If taking samples by nasal swabs is not possible for some residents, the homes can collect deep throat saliva samples from these residents. If any positive cases are found among the residents in the special testing, the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will contact the homes for follow-up.
The SWD has strongly appealed the homes for their assistance in this special testing for the well-being of the residents.
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