,"name":"Comment","item":{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https://www.thestandard.com.hk/comment"}}]}]17:T7ee,

Domestic workers in Hong Kong are queuing up at Covid testing stations around the city this morning after the government required all helpers in the city, about 370,000 people, to undergo tests by May 9.

A helper in Tung Chung was earlier tested positive for the mutated coronavirus variant with unknown source, triggering the compulsory testing.

Over a hundred people, mostly helpers, formed long lines at the Covid testing station set up at Edinburgh Place in Central.

One of the helpers said she still finds it hard to understand why domestic workers are the only ones who need compulsory testing, but not the employers or other foreign workers.

Meanwhile, not only the domestic workers are waiting in line for their Covid tests, construction workers and restaurant staffers also need to get tested once every 14 days as required by the government.

Some of them complained that the surge in bookings made by the domestic workers are making it harder for them to book the Covid tests this week

As of 2pm today, all community testing centers in the city were fully booked. The earliest available center is the one at Tsing Yi Sports Centre on Thursday. The centers at Lai King, Tsuen Wan and Yuen Long will only be available on Friday.

As for the Yau Ma Tei center, the earliest available slot is on Saturday, while those in Tuen Mun, Wong Tai Sin and Fanling are only available on Sunday onwards.

[Video] Domestic helpers formed long lines at Covid testing stations