New mobile specimen collection station set up at Ping Tin Estate in Lam Tin
***************************************************************************
The Government is very concerned about a number of COVID-19 confirmed cases reported recently at Ping Shing House of Ping Tin Estate in Lam Tin. Starting from today (December 23), the Government has arranged for a testing agency to set up a mobile specimen collection station at the following location to provide free testing service for residents and workers in that district:
| New mobile specimen collection station | Operating hours of first day (December 23) |
| Open area between Ping Wong House and Ping Yan House, Ping Tin Estate (Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Centre Limited) | 2pm to 8pm |
With effect from tomorrow (December 24), operating hours of the abovementioned mobile specimen collection station is from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 8pm, and it will tentatively operate until December 26 (Saturday). The Government will decide whether it is necessary to extend the operation period of the station after reviewing its usage and public's demand for the testing service.
Separately, after reviewing the usage and public's demand for the testing service, the Government has decided to extend the service period of the mobile specimen collection station at King Tsui Court in Chai Wan to December 27 (Sunday); and the service periods for those at Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po, Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin Square, Tung Chung North Park and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground to December 31 (Thursday). The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are at Annex.
A Government spokesman said, "The testing agencies will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations for testing free of charge. Persons who are subject to compulsory testing and undergo testing at the mobile specimen collection stations will be deemed to have undergone a test at a Community Testing Centre. The mobile specimen collection stations will accord priority to provide testing service for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing."
People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS through their mobile phones. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive 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.
The spokesman urged all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases) to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.
Ends/Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Issued at HKT 20:29
Issued at HKT 20:29
NNNN