Hospital Authority extends arrangement on staff regular testing
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To further enhance staff and patient safety, and prevent nosocomial transmission of COVID-19, the Hospital Authority (HA) will extend the regular testing arrangement to cover all staff members, full time and part time, beginning from today (August 2).
The HA has earlier arranged frontline staff with direct patient contacts to perform a rapid antigen test for COVID-19 on a weekly basis.
"The HA will set up a month-long transition period, during which all staff members who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccination will receive the rapid antigen test kits for self-arranged testing every week. With effect from September 1, all staff members will have to undergo a biweekly polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests for COVID-19 (PCR tests), except for those vaccinated or those who can present medical certificates. The PCR tests will need to be taken outside working hours and at staff members' own expenses," the HA spokesperson said.
"The extension of the regular testing arrangement can help reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection. The transition period can also ensure a smooth implementation of the testing arrangement. The HA expresses gratitude to staff members for their ongoing co-operation on the testing arrangement and also appeals to their early vaccination to protect themselves, their families and patients."
At present, the vaccination rate has reached 67 per cent for HA staff overall. Among different staff groups, the vaccination rate has reached nearly 90 per cent for doctors, 65 per cent both for nursing and allied health staff, and over 70 per cent for care-related supporting staff.
Ends/Monday, August 2, 2021
Issued at HKT 19:55
Issued at HKT 19:55
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