The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, today (September 7) visited two community testing centres at Kowloon City Sports Centre and To Kwa Wan Sports Centre to learn more about their operation as the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) enters its second week and to thank the healthcare workers and staff members for their dedication and hard work.

     The healthcare workers of the two community testing centres come from St Teresa's Hospital and Evangel Hospital respectively. Mrs Lam listened to briefings by staff members on the operation of the community testing centres over the past week and expressed her sincere gratitude to medical superintendent of St Teresa's Hospital Dr Wong Chi-ming and medical superintendent of Evangel Hospital Ms Winnie Ng as well as the healthcare workers and staff members at the centres. She said that, with their hard work and active participation by members of the public, the UCTP has been running smoothly with a number of asymptomatic patients identified, thereby contributing to the fight against the virus. Mrs Lam also chatted with members of the public who underwent tests and said she was pleased to note that they were satisfied with the arrangement of the programme.

     Mrs Lam pointed out that the Government last week decided to extend the UCTP to September 11, and said that it is reviewing the operation of various community testing centres and the public's demand for the testing service to decide whether to further extend the programme. She appealed to members of the public to seize the opportunity to take part in the programme to help the Government identify asymptomatic patients in the community early, thereby enabling the resumption of people's daily lives and economic activities in safe circumstances. She also urged employers of various sectors to encourage their staff members to participate in the UCTP in order to protect the health of the employees and clients, and to boost the confidence of the Government in relaxing the social distancing measures gradually.

     Details of the UCTP are available on the dedicated website www.communitytest.gov.hk.

Ends/Monday, September 7, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:10

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