The Government reminded members of the public today (November 6) that, starting Tuesday (November 8), persons subject to compulsory testing and specified members of the public can continue to receive COVID-19 nucleic acid testing for free at community testing centres (CTCs) / community testing stations (CTSs) simply by using the Testing Registration Code in the "LeaveHomeSafe" (LHS) mobile application for registration or making a booking online in advance. Relevant citizens who generate a user-designated Testing Registration QR Code on site at CTC/CTSs are also entitled for free testing.

     Using a Testing Registration Code can save the manual input of information by staff during the registration procedure, thereby avoiding repeated registration and waiting by the citizens for data input at every testing. This can shorten the time spent for the whole testing process and also minimise the contact of citizens with staff. Citizens only need to input information once, and the Registration Code will then be automatically stored in the LHS mobile application for repeated use in future tests. Staff at CTC/CTSs are ready to offer help to citizens who need assistance in obtaining the Testing Registration Code.

     Individuals eligible for free testing from November 8 onwards are:
 
1. Persons subject to compulsory testing (such as those residing or working in a residential building which was included in a compulsory testing notice)
2. Eligible persons of targeted groups (such as staff of residential care homes (RCHs), airport and cold stores)
3. Visitors to public hospitals and RCHs
4. Elderly aged 60 or above
5. Inbound persons
6. Persons undergoing voluntary testing

     As for citizens who are exempted from using the LHS mobile application, such as children aged 15 or below, elderly aged 65 or above, and persons with disabilities, they can still undergo free testing at CTC/CTSs even without advance booking or without the Testing Registration Code.

     Citizens can help persons in need, such as young children and elderly who do not possess a mobile phone/mobile device, to obtain a Testing Registration Code through the LHS mobile application. Free testing will also be offered to the relevant persons who present the screen shot or printout containing the Testing Registration Code at testing points.

     The Government is progressively expanding online booking arrangement for testing services to all 85 CTC/CTSs. Members of the public can make a reservation via the online booking system (booking.communitytest.gov.hk/form/index.jsp).

     A Government spokesman reminded members of the public undergoing nucleic acid testing to bring along the necessary identification documents (such as a valid Hong Kong identity card) and a mobile phone which can receive SMS in Hong Kong for verification by the staff so as to ensure that the test result can be delivered to the testee. Only one user-designated Testing Registration Code can be stored in the LHS mobile application.

Ends/Sunday, November 6, 2022
Issued at HKT 12:00

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