By The SUN
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| People who get a doctor's written order should send a specimen sample for testing within 2 days |
From tomorrow, Aug 20 until Sept 2, or a period of two weeks, doctors may require any person they suspect to have contracted Covid-19 to undergo a nucleic acid, or PCR, test.
The test could be done either through submitting a deep-throat saliva sample at government-designated specimen collection points, or through testing by recognized private laboratories, within two days of the doctor's written order.
This is according to a statement issued by the government today, Friday, as the number of new Covid cases shot up to 6,445, the highest since March.
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| PINDUTIN PARA SA DETALYE |
“According to expert advice, compulsory testing for symptomatic patients can effectively slow down the transmission of the virus by early identification, early isolation and early treatment,” said the statement.
“To keep the epidemic situation under control, the Government considers it necessary to continue to solicit help from medical practitioners in identifying possibly infected persons as soon as possible.”
During the specified period, doctors may issue a written direction to persons they attend to in the course of their professional practice, and whom they suspect to have contracted the coronavirus, to undergo a PCR test.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
Anyone who gets the written order should undergo a test within two days from the date it was issued. This deadline will only be extended in case a Typhoon Signal No 3 or above is issued, or a red or black rainstorm warning, or any “extreme conditions" announcement from the government.
Those subject to testing under a doctor’s written directions may choose to undergo testing through any of the following:
(1) To use the
specimen bottle provided by the doctor who issued the written direction to
collect a deep throat saliva specimen and submit the same to any specimen
collection point by the testing deadline (for the specimen collection points
and times, see at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html).
The doctor who issued the written direction will be notified of the test
result; or
(2) To self-arrange testing by private laboratories recognized by the DH (see
the list at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf)
by the testing deadline and submit the test result to the doctor who issued the
written order or his clinic by email, fax or hard copy within four days after
the testing deadline.
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Persons who are issued with the written testing order are advised to stay at home and should not go to mobile specimen collection stations or community testing centres for testing to reduce the risk of transmission.
Like those who fail to comply with compulsory testing notices for designated premises, anyone who does not comply with the compulsory testing directions could be prosecuted and subject to a maximum penalty of $25,000 and imprisonment for six months.
Alternatively, they can discharge their liability by paying the fixed penalty of $10,000.
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Violators may also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring them to undergo testing within a specified period. Failure to do so could make them liable to a fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for six months.
The statement also said that under Cap 599 or the Prevention and Control of Disease Ordinace, relevant officers of different government departments may request individuals to provide information that they deem necessary for anti-epidemic purposes.
Those who fail to comply with such requests for information may be fined up to $10,000.
The statement urged all individuals who are in doubt about their health conditions or are at risk of contracting the virus, such as close contacts or those who visited places where there had been outbreaks, to undergo testing promptly.
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