Government adjusts testing service and community isolation facilities admission application

The Government announced that, in view of the latest developments of the COVID-19 epidemic and the overall demand for nucleic acid testing, starting from March 1, the requirement for nucleic acid tests for public hospitals and residential care homes for the elderly and the residential care homes for persons with disabilities will be replaced by rapid antigen tests. Moreover, from the same day onwards, free nucleic acid testing service will no longer be provided at the community testing network, and the operation of nucleic acid testing will be scaled down.

The Government earlier announced the transitional arrangements of voluntary admission to community isolation facilities (CIFs) for people tested positive of COVID-19. The Government reminded members of the public that the relevant transitional arrangements for use by Hong Kong residents will last until February 28. As confinees can stay at the CIF for up to seven days, the last date for admission application would be on February 21. The same arrangement is also applicable to the holding centres manged by the Social Welfare Department for residents of residential care homes tested positive.