Specimens from 1 267 persons were collected for COVID-19 nucleic acid tests today (October 18) at the Yau Tsim Mong Temporary Testing Centre located at Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre set up by the Government. The centre ceased operation at 8pm. Specimens from a cumulative total of 16 802 persons had been collected from the four temporary testing centres set up by the Government, including the three centres which ceased operation earlier.

     As ýÿat 10pm today, a total of 15 535 specimens collected under the temporary community testing arrangement had been tested. If any specimen tested shows a positive COVID-19 result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.ýÿýÿýÿýÿýÿýÿýÿ

     In view of signs of deterioration of the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong in early October, the Government had decided to set up one temporary testing centre in each of the four districts, namely Wan Chai, Kwai Tsing, Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong Districts, which were related to recent community outbreak clusters, to provide free specimen collection and testing services to facilitate testing of members of the public, in order to identify cases and asymptomatic patients as early as possible so as to cut the transmission chains in the community.ýÿýÿýÿýÿ

     While the temporary testing centres have ceased operation, members of the public can still receive free COVID-19 tests by collecting deep throat saliva specimen collection packs at the 46 general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority. Distribution time of the specimen collection packs has been extended to ýÿ9am to 1pm and ýÿ2pm to 5pm from Monday to Friday.ýÿýÿýÿ
      
     A Government spokesman appealed to all members of the public who have doubts about their health condition to undergo testing to protect oneself and others and to fight the virus together.    

Ends/Sunday, October 18, 2020
Issued at HKT 22:44

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