Hong Kong to conduct 3-day mass self-test for COVID-19

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on Saturday invited all people in Hong Kong to do a rapid antigen test (RAT) for COVID-19 each day from April 8 to 10.

Lam told a press conference that the test, on a voluntary basis, is not a replacement for the planned mass mandatory testing, but it aims to identify infected COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong and see when is the best time to conduct the massive testing, reported Xinhua.

Of the more than 1.1 million positive cases reported in Hong Kong so far, 37 per cent, or more than 425,000 cases, came from valid results of RAT, according to Lam.

The HKSAR government on Saturday began distributing anti-epidemic service bags, which include 20 RAT kits, to households across the territory, Lam said, urging people to do the tests and submit the results within 24 hours if tested positive.

Also on Saturday, the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) experts from the mainland continued their visit in Hong Kong. They visited two residential care homes for the elderly and learned about how the aged care homes responded to the fifth wave of COVID-19.

Led by Tong Xiaolin, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the TCM expert team from the mainland arrived in Hong Kong on March 29, reported the news agency.

On Saturday, Hong Kong registered 2,286 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 2,189 additional positive cases through self-reported rapid antigen tests, official data showed.

( With inputs from ANI )

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