The Government announced today (November 22) that the COVID-19 testing arrangement for persons arriving at Hong Kong will be adjusted from tomorrow (November 23) onwards. Nucleic acid tests with deep throat saliva specimen will no longer be accepted.
 
     Generally, only persons arriving at Hong Kong under two categories are currently allowed to use deep throat saliva specimen for nucleic acid testing. They are inbound travellers who have stayed in the Mainland or Macao and did not arrive at Hong Kong under the "Return2hk"or "Come2hk" Schemes, and unvaccinated children aged under 12 who have only stayed in Group B specified places and are allowed to complete self-isolation at home with the accompanying persons upon fulfillment of all the specified conditions.
 
     Under the new arrangement, the abovementioned persons who arrive at Hong Kong on or after November 23, 2021 must attend a Community Testing Centre to undergo testing with combined nasal and throat swabs. Deep throat saliva specimen will no longer be accepted. The relevant persons must travel directly to and from their place of quarantine or isolation and the Community Testing Centres. If public transport is to be engaged, only taxis can be used and the person concerned cannot disembark on the way. The person concerned should also make a note of the car plate numbers of the vehicles taken and retain those records for 30 days from the day of transport, or scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" QR code on the taxis using the "LeaveHomeSafe" mobile application on his or her mobile phone.
 
     The Government will gazette the relevant updated specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to effect the above measure on November 23.
 
     Details on the corresponding boarding, compulsory quarantine and testing requirements for relevant specified places can be found at www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html.

Ends/Monday, November 22, 2021
Issued at HKT 22:46

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