HK to roll out ‘targeted’ mandatory COVID-19 testing
Chief Executive Carrie Lam explains the government's plans on mandatory 'targeted' COVID-19 testing. (SCREENSHOT: isd.gov.hk)
Some symptomatic individuals and those from high-risk groups may soon have to undergo compulsory testing as the Hong Kong government aims to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the city.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam in a press briefing Tuesday morning said the scheme will be rolled out after passing subsidiary legislation under the existing Prevention and Control Ordinance.
“We are focusing on those with symptoms, those in minor outbreaks, and those in high-risk places and small communities that are under high-risk,” Lam said in Cantonese.
In the past nine months, several clusters of COVID-19 infections have become a cause for concern—as cases arose from container terminals, residential care homes, and agency dormitories where foreign domestic workers await going to their new employers.
Foreign domestic workers who belong to this high-risk group have had access to free, voluntary testing under the Labour Department from Aug. 25 to Oct. 15. The free testing continued on Tuesday.
Lam‘s explanation of the targeted scheme came amid human rights issues in requiring all Hong Kong residents to be tested.
She believes government must strike a balance, but also explained it has the power to restrict citizen’s freedoms amid a public health crisis.
“When dealing with public health issues, especially something so important and so difficult—we’re talking about the pandemic—we have to strike a balance,” she said.
Lam also announced four testing centres will be opened in Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon side, and the western and eastern parts of the New Territories.
Lam said the services, targeting those who will need test results for travel or QR health codes in the future, will be offered at reasonable prices.
The Hong Kong Authority is also set to try out rapid testing for inbound travellers to minimise testing chokepoints, Lam said.