ýÿA one-off compulsory COVID-19 testing scheme for taxi drivers launched by the Transport Department (TD) was held from December 9 to 22 and a total of 13 Dedicated Testing Centres were set up across the territory. The TD today (December 23) said that with the unwavering support by the taxi trade, a total of 46 118 taxi drivers have undergone the test at the Centres. Amongst the test results of these taxi drivers, three of them were confirmed positive by the Department of Health (DH). The DH has contacted the concerned taxi drivers and followed up the cases according to the established procedures.

     Virus testing is an integral part of the epidemic control strategies. The TD thanked all the taxi drivers for their participation in the testing scheme which would help achieve the objective of "early identification, early quarantine and early treatment", and cut silent transmission chains and slow down the transmission of the virus in the community. The taxi trade has all along been fighting the virus together and taking various prevention measures to safeguard the health of drivers and passengers.

     For taxi drivers who have not yet undergone the test, they can arrange testing by themselves at their own expenses in a private laboratory recognised by the DH (see the list on www.coronavirus.gov.hk/pdf/List_of_recognised_laboratories_RTPCR.pdf), including any of the Community Testing Centres set up by the Government (see the list on www.communitytest.gov.hk/en/), and undergo the testing as instructed by the relevant staff.

     The TD reminds that in accordance with the Compulsory Testing Notice issued by the Secretary for Food and Health on December 5, 2020, a taxi driver driving a taxi during the period from December 25, 2020 to January 23, 2021 shall keep the test report or the relevant SMS or email notification containing the test result for checking by the enforcement agencies.

     Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notice commits an offence and may be liable to a fixed penalty of $5,000, and will be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring this person to undergo the testing within a specified period. Failure to comply with the order is an offence and the offender may be liable on conviction to a fine at level 4 ($25,000) and imprisonment for six months.

Ends/Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Issued at HKT 21:42

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