Mobile specimen collection station to be set up in Kowloon City from today

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The local 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. Through mobile specimen collection stations and specimen bottle distribution points set up earlier in Tsuen Wan, Sai Kung and Tai Po, the Government is providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for members of the public.

     Starting from today (December 1), the Government will arrange for the testing agency (Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Centre Limited) to set up a mobile specimen collection station in Kai Tak Community Hall, Kowloon City. Operating hours will be as follows: December 1, 2020 (Tuesday), from 2pm to 8pm, and thereafter daily from 10am to 8pm. Tentatively, the mobile specimen collection station will operate until December 4, 2020 (Friday). The Government will decide whether it is necessary to extend the operation period of the mobile specimen collection station after reviewing the usage of the station and public’s demand for the testing service. Other mobile specimen collection stations in Tsuen Wan, Sai Kung and Tai Po will continue to operate.

A government spokesman said, "The testing agency will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection station 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. People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a positive COVID-19 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.

Ends/Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Issued at HKT 12:30

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