​The Food and Health Bureau announced today (February 5) that the Government will continue to provide one-off free voluntary COVID-19 testing service to all foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) and construction site workers in Hong Kong, and expand such arrangement to security and guarding personnel. Eligible persons may make booking for testing service online starting today.
      
     A spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said, "The Government started to provide one-off free voluntary COVID-19 testing service to FDHs and construction site workers at community testing centres through online booking in December last year and January 2021 respectively. The response has been positive.  Having considered the ongoing epidemic situation in Hong Kong, we considered it necessary to expand and extend the relevant testing arrangements.
      
     "The Government will regularly review the coverage of relevant targeted groups based on the latest epidemic risk assessment.”
      
     "The free testing service will be available until end February. We encourage eligible targeted groups to actively participate in the free voluntary testing to safeguard their health and that of their families and co-workers. The FDHs and construction site workers who have received testing in last round’s arrangement can make booking again.   Eligible persons can choose a suitable time slot for testing taking into account their own needs. If the eligible persons 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."
      
     Eligible persons 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 have 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 (Opening hours will be slightly adjusted during the Lunar New Year). Deep cleaning and disinfection will be conducted when the testing centres close in the afternoon and at night. When arriving at the community testing centre at the designated time slot, eligible persons 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. Construction site workers should also present their construction worker registration card issued by the Construction Industry Council while the security and guarding personnel should present security personnel permit for verification.
      
     The free voluntary testing service will be offered from February 6 till February 28. During the period, each eligible person 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 be 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, citizens 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/Friday, February 5, 2021
Issued at HKT 20:30

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