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New mobile specimen collection stations to be set up in Po Tat Estate, Kwun Tong and Choi Wan (II) Estate, Wong Tai Sin
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      The local COVID-19 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.
 
      The Government is very concerned about a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reported at Tat Yi House, Po Tat Estate and Ming Lai House, Choi Wan (II) Estate recently. Starting from tomorrow (December 16), the Government will arrange for two testing agencies, BGI and Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Centre Limited, to set up mobile specimen collection stations at the open space next to Po Tat Shopping Centre (near Tat Hei House of Po Tat Estate) and the basketball court next to Ming Lai House of Choi Wan (II) Estate respectively to provide testing service for residents and workers of Po Tat Estate and Choi Wan (II) Estate. Operating hours will be daily from 10am to 8pm. Tentatively, the mobile specimen collection stations will operate until December 20 (Sunday). The Government will decide whether it is necessary to extend the operation period of the two stations after reviewing their usage and public's demand for the testing service.

     Through mobile specimen collection stations set up earlier in Tai Po, Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin, Tung Chung, Wong Chuk Hang, Kwai Shing, Kowloon Bay and Tung Tau (II) Estate, the Government has been providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for members of the public. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing services for the general public are at Annex.
 
     A Government spokesman said, "The testing agencies will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations 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. The mobile specimen collection stations will accord priority to provide testing service for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing."
 
     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 15, 2020
Issued at HKT 20:04
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