The SUN HK : Temporary testing centres for Covid-19 to remain open until tomorrow

By The SUN

The Wanchai centre was used originally to test only FDHs in-between jobs

Four temporary testing centres for Covid-19 set by the government from Oct 10 to provide free specimen collection and testing services to the public will remain in operation until tomorrow, Oct 16.

“The temporary testing centres will continue to provide service to members of the public till this Friday (October 16) tentatively,” said a statement issued by the Centre for Health Protection late Wednesday night.

The centres, located at Harbour Road Sports Centre in Wanchai, Shek Lei Community Hall in Kwai Tsing, Kai Tak Community Hall in Kowloon City, and the Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre for Yau Tsim Mong districts, were supposed to close yesterday, Oct 14.

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But the closure of offices on Oct 13 due to the hoisting of typhoon signal no. 8 could have led health officials to extend the free tests further.

Another reason could be the anticipated rise in demand for tests after a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic was among 12 new Covid-19 cases reported today.

More than 100 close contacts of the musician, including other HK Phil members have been quarantined, while the audience in the two shows he played at Friday and Saturday at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, estimated to be around 1,400 for both events, have been advised to go for tests.

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According to a government press release issued late last night, a total of 8,676 samples had been collected from residents who applied to have themselves tested at the four temporary testing centres. As of 10pm last night, 4,948 of the samples had already been tested.

Speaking at a news conference today, Undersecretary for Food and Health Dr Chui Tak-yi said no positive result was found from the samples tested so far.

The biggest number of samples were collected at the Yaumatei centre, where 1,237 people provided samples; followed by 1,041 in Wanchai, 786 in Kwai Tsing, and 674 in Kowloon City. A big number of those who asked to be tested were foreign domestic workers who were mostly moving in with new employers.

The centres are open from 8am to 1:30 pm, and then 2:30pm to 8pm.

Negative test results are sent via SMS to the person concerned
while CHP is notified of any positive outcome

According to the government, the offer of free tests is meant to “identify cases and asymptomatic patients as early as possible so as to cut the transmission chains in the community.”

Those who test negative for the virus are notified of the result via SMS. Confirmed cases will be taken for treatment at public hospitals, and their number added to Hong Kong’s total daily tally as announced by the CHP.

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Tests at the temporary centres are only for asymptomatic people. Those who develop any of the symptoms of Covid-19 are urged to go to any of the 46 general outpatient clinics (GOPCs) of the Hospital Authority (HA) which operate between ‪9am to 1pm and ‪2pm to 5pm, from Monday to Friday.

On weekends, people with symptoms may go to the accident and emergency sections of public hospitals.

Targeted testing for bar staff and patrons is still ongoing. A mobile testing van will be parked near bars in Kennedy Town tomorrow night, Prince Edward on Saturday, and Soho in Central on Sunday.