Labour Department continues to set up mobile specimen collection stations to provide free COVID-19 testing service for foreign domestic helpers
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     The Labour Department (LD) announced today (March 30) that mobile specimen collection stations will continue to be set up at popular gathering places of foreign domestic helpers (FDHs) on Sundays in April and the day following Ching Ming Festival (April 5) to provide a free COVID-19 testing service for FDHs.
      
     An LD spokesman said, "The LD had set up mobile specimen collection stations in March at popular gathering places of FDHs to facilitate all FDHs in Hong Kong to receive testing. To benefit more FDHs, the LD will continue to provide the testing service to all FDHs in April. We strongly encourage FDHs to participate in the free testing to safeguard their health. We also appeal to employment agencies and employers to encourage and arrange for FDHs to receive the free testing service at designated mobile specimen collection stations. No prior appointment is required."
      
     The four mobile specimen collection stations will be set up at the Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in Central (near the bus stop), the Hing Fat Street entrance of Victoria Park in Causeway Bay (near Exit A2 of MTR Tin Hau Station), the Lai Chi Kok Park entrance (near Exit D of MTR Mei Foo Station) and the Tsuen Wan Park entrance (near Exit D of MTR Tsuen Wan West Station). Mobile specimen collection stations are open on Sundays in April (April 4, 11, 18 and 25) and the day following Ching Ming Festival (April 5), from 10am to 5pm. An FDH should bring along his or her Hong Kong identity card or passport, and register his or her personal information on the spot at the government website (www.tgptest.gov.hk; The category "Non-Government Staff - Foreign domestic helpers" should be selected) in order to receive an SMS notification of the test result. FDHs will be given the barcode number of the specimen bottle they collect after registration for reference. If necessary, duty officers can assist FDHs in registration.  
      
     The testing agent will provide the specimen collection service by combined nasal and throat swab to FDHs receiving the test, and will deliver the specimens to the laboratory for testing. The testing agent will not acquire or retain any personal information of the participants. Participants will be notified of a negative test result via SMS. Positive cases will be referred to the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health (DH) for follow-up and the DH will contact the participant concerned if it is confirmed to be an infection case.
      
     For enquiries, please contact the LD through the dedicated FDH hotline at 2157 9537 (manned by 1823) or by email fdh-enquiry@labour.gov.hk

Ends/Tuesday, March 30, 2021
Issued at HKT 12:00

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