The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, and the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, today (September 7) inspected the community testing centre at Lockhart Road Sports Centre to view the operation of the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP), which commenced on September 1, and to give encouragement to the healthcare staff and others working there.
      
     The healthcare personnel of the testing centre come from the Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong (FMSHK). Professor Chan and Dr Chan were briefed by the former President of the FMSHK, Dr Raymond Lo, on the operation of the testing centre over the past few days. She also talked to the healthcare workers and staff members.
      
     "I appreciate healthcare personnel and students of medical-related subjects at tertiary institutions for their participation in the UCTP and their help with specimen collection for members of the public at 141 testing centres across Hong Kong. They are demonstrating in full their professionalism, fighting COVID-19 together with the Government and making contributions to public health," Professor Chan said.
      
     After reviewing the data and experience from the operation of the UCTP, as well as the public's demand for the testing service, the Government decided earlier that the UCTP would be extended for four days to September 11 to enable more people to receive tests.
      
     Professor Chan appealed to members of the public to seize the opportunity to make online bookings for testing as soon as possible, and to encourage their relatives and friends to take part as well.
      
     "The UCTP can identify asymptomatic patients in the community, thereby cut the virus transmission chains and help relax the social distancing measures gradually in Hong Kong so as to allow members of public to resume social and economic activities. I appeal to the public to fight the virus together and join the UCTP to protect themselves and others, with a view to winning the battle against the virus as soon as possible," she said.
      
     Since the start of the UCTP, Professor Chan has inspected different testing centres. The other centres she has visited are Lai Chi Kok Park Sports Centre, Hong Kong St John Ambulance Brigade Kowloon Command Headquarters, Smithfield Sports Centre, the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (Convention Hall), Queen Elizabeth Stadium, Yuen Chau Kok Community Hall and Wong Nai Chung Sports Centre.
      
     Details of the UCTP are available on the dedicated website www.communitytest.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, September 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:45

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