Covid testing stations set up in Tai Po after test rush

Three mobile specimen collection stations have been set up in Tai Po to offer free testing to residents starting today, after nine Tai Po residents have been diagnosed successively.

The three stations are located at the volleyball court next to Kwong Wai House of Kwong Fuk Estate, the open space outside Fu Shin Community Hall, and the open space between the Pai Lau and the Pavilion of Wai Tau Tsuen in Tai Po.

The stations will operate from 10am to 5pm between November 9 and November 11. Members of the public may visit the mobile stations directly for on-site registration and specimen collections.

Hundreds of Tai Po residents were seen queuing up at the station at Kwong Fuk Estate this morning. They will receive a specimen bottle after a simple registration, with staff helping with the specimen collection. The whole process takes around 30 minutes including the waiting time.

Chris Wong Lei-Po from the Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Diagnostic Centre, the contractor of the three testing centers said they have so far collected samples from around 200 residents at the station at Kwong Fuk Estate, saying the number of people wanting to get tested exceeded their expectations.

He stressed there are no limits set for the collection of samples.

Tai Po residents yesterday rushed to get sampling bottles for Covid-19 tests, after health officials warned about hidden transmission chains in the district.

Dozens of residents queued at the door of Tai Po Jockey Club Clinic, which distributes 90 free Covid-19 test kits a day, before it opened at 9am. All of yesterday's kits were handed out within half an hour, disappointing some who had arrived too late.-Photo: Commercial Radio HK