Hong Kong to offer free COVID-19 testing for all residents
Hong Kong will offer free voluntary coronavirus testing for residents, leader Carrie Lam said on Friday, as the global financial hub races to contain a resurgence of the virus over the past month.
File photo of a woman wearing a surgical mask while walking at Central following the coronavirus disease outbreak in Hong Kong, Jul 22, 2020. (Photo: REUTERS/Tyrone Siu)
HONG KONG: Hong Kong will offer free voluntary coronavirus testing for residents, leader Carrie Lam said on Friday (Aug 7), as the global financial hub races to contain a resurgence of the virus over the past month.
The plan, which will enable citywide testing for the first time, is likely to be implemented in two weeks at the earliest, Chief Executive Lam said.
The announcement comes less than a week after China sent a team of health officials to Hong Kong to carry out widespread testing for COVID-19. It is the first time mainland health officials have assisted Hong Kong in its battle to control the coronavirus.
"The situation in Hong Kong is still critical, with the number of cases remaining high," Lam told reporters as she sat in front of a large-screen digital backdrop which read "Fight the virus with the central government's full support".
Lam said she had asked Beijing in late July to help increase Hong Kong's virus testing capabilities and facilities.
"We want to do it as soon as possible within short duration, because the earlier that we could identify these silent transmitters, the better," Lam said.
The testing will be conducted by Hong Kong subsidiaries of three mainland companies including Chinese genomics firm BGI Group, she added.
Lam also sought to dispel fears among some people that China may use it as an opportunity to collect DNA samples for surveillance purposes.
"It is a false accusation and smear to say DNA samples of Hong Kong citizens would be sent to the mainland," Lam said, adding that all samples would be destroyed after testing.
"If people still have concerns, they don't need to come forward," she said.
"This is an entirely voluntary programme to provide testing for those who want to have a test."
She added that "conspiracy theories" were "damaging the relationship between the central government and Hong Kong".
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The National Health Commission of China sent an "advance unit" of clinical laboratory staff to the city on Sunday.
Lam said another team has been set up to assist in building Hong Kong a makeshift hospital similar to those erected when the virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.
Authorities recently opened a 500-bed temporary facility to treat non-serious infections in an exhibition centre near the airport, and are expecting to boost its capacity by adding 1,400 beds.
The new temporary hospital will be built nearby.
Hong Kong saw a surge in locally transmitted coronavirus cases at the start of July and introduced a raft of tightening measures including restricting gatherings to two people and making wearing masks mandatory in all outdoor public spaces.
Since January around 3,900 people have been infected in Hong Kong, 46 of whom have died. Hong Kong reported 89 new coronavirus cases on Friday, of which 81 were locally transmitted.
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