With the prolonged local COVID-19 epidemic situation, the number of confirmed cases has remained at a relatively high level. 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 set up earlier in various districts, the Government has been providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for members of the public. The Government is now identifying more suitable locations, in particular near the buildings covered under the compulsory testing notice through exercising the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) on December 30, for setting up mobile specimen collection stations or other appropriate means (such as through community testing centres nearby) to provide a free and convenient testing service for residents and relevant persons covered under the compulsory testing notice.
 
     For existing mobile specimen collection stations, after reviewing the usage and public demand for the testing service, the Government has decided to extend the service period of the mobile specimen collection station set up at the basketball court next to Ming Lai House of Choi Wan (II) Estate to continue to provide testing service for residents and workers of Choi Wan (II) Estate until January 2, 2021 (Saturday), tentatively.
 
     The Government has also earlier decided to extend the service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po, Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin Square, Tung Chung North Park and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground to January 8, 2021 (Friday).
 
     The Government will decide whether it is necessary to further extend the operation period of the stations after reviewing their usage and the public's demand for the testing service. The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are at the 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 services for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing."
 
     People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS notifications through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive 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.
 
     The Government will continue to inform the public through press releases and the thematic website (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) about the latest situations of mobile specimen collection stations (including specimen collection means near the buildings covered under the compulsory testing notice issued on December 30). 

Ends/Thursday, December 31, 2020
Issued at HKT 16:00

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