The Food and Health Bureau announced today (January 17) that the Government will provide a one-off free COVID-19 testing service to all couriers (including takeaway food couriers) in Hong Kong from January 19 to January 31 via online booking. Booking for the relevant service can be made starting from today.
           
     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "There has been concern about the transmission of virus through door-to-door courier services. In order to reduce transmission risk of COVID-19 in the community, in addition to foreign domestic helpers and construction site workers, the Government will offer a one-off free COVID-19 testing service to all couriers in Hong Kong through community testing centres."
           
     "We encourage couriers to actively participate in the free testing to safeguard their health and that of their families and co-workers. The free testing service will be available until January 31. Couriers can choose a suitable time slot taking into account their own needs."
           
     "If couriers have symptoms, they should seek medical attention immediately and undergo free testing provided by the Government as instructed by a medical professional. They should not attend the community testing centres."
           
     Couriers should make advance booking for the free testing service via the community testing centre booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk). Those who did not make an appointment will need to pay for the testing service at $240.
           
     The community testing centres are open daily from 8am to 1.30pm and from 2.30pm to 8pm. Deep cleaning and disinfection will be conducted when they close in the afternoon and at night. When arriving at the community testing centre at the designated time slot, couriers should present identity document used at the time of booking (such as Hong Kong identity card or passport) and the SMS booking confirmation for verification.
           
     The free voluntary testing service will be offered starting from January 19 and last until January 31. During the period, each courier can receive free testing service once only. Participants will be notified by SMS through their mobile phones if the test result is negative. Should any specimen is tested preliminary positive, it 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.

     In addition to attending the community testing centres for testing, couriers can continue to utilise other free testing channels provided by the Government, including obtaining a deep throat saliva specimen collection pack from post offices, MTR stations or designated general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority and return the specimen to the designated specimen collection points. For details on testing means other than community testing centres, please refer to the following webpage: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html.    

Ends/Sunday, January 17, 2021
Issued at HKT 22:04

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