The Social Welfare Department today (December 4) announced that two Temporary Testing Centres dedicated for staff members of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes will be set up to make it more convenient for them to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19.

     The Secretary for Food and Health on November 30 issued a compulsory testing notice under section 10(1) of the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J), requiring staff members of RCHEs, RCHDs and nursing homes to undergo polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 between December 1 and 14 according to the requirements and procedures specified in the notice. The sample must not be taken by the person himself/herself. 

     A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department (SWD) said apart from receiving specimen collection services in any of the Community Testing Centres or self-arranging testing at their own expenses, the concerned staff members may bring along with a registration form completed by their residential care homes for on-site registration and testing at the two Temporary Testing Centres. No advance booking is available and the test is free of charge. 

     Details of the two Temporary Testing Centres are as follows:

(1) Wong Chuk Hang Temporary Testing Centre 
Address: Hong Kong Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground (No. 2 Soccer Pitch)
Date: Starting from December 4
Opening hours: Daily from 9am to 1.30pm; and from 2.30pm to 7pm

(2) Wan Chai Temporary Testing Centre
Address: Hong Kong Hennessy Road Playground (Basketball Court), Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Date: Starting from December 5
Opening hours: Daily from 9am to 1.30pm; and from 2.30pm to 7pm

     For more details of the information and location of the two Temporary Testing Centres, please visit the SWD's website (www.swd.gov.hk).

Ends/Friday, December 4, 2020
Issued at HKT 10:05

NNNN