Citywide Covid testing an option to be considered: Carrie Lam

A territory-wide mandatory Covid testing scheme is “an option to be mulled,” Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said. 

Sources said all 7.5 million Hongkongers will have to undergo mandatory Covid tests in groups next month, while some samples will be sent to Shenzhen laboratories due to limited test capacities in the SAR.

A four-member mainland expert panel arrived in Hong Kong  on Thursday. Welcoming them at Shenzhen Bay Port, Lam said she is working to pump up the city’s test capacities to 300,000 a day by end of this month.

She also hinted the mandatory universal testing could be on its way, as she said: “When we have the capacity, a territory-wide Covid testing scheme will be an option to be considered.”

“We can afford the tests with the help from the nation, but we’ll need citizens to cooperate with us,” she added.

With the fifth wave escalating, it is understood that authorities have decided to order all SAR residents to get tested in groups according to their Hong Kong ID numbers.

Up to a million people will be tested every day, and each person will have to go through three tests within three weeks.

The latest proposal will not involve locking down districts one by one. But those who fail to comply with the testing order will be fined HK$10,000.

It is understood that authorities had considered locking down different districts one by one to make people get tested but eventually ditched the idea because it would bring an even bigger inconvenience on citizens.