We need smart coronavirus testing, not just more testing, says health expert

A health expert said the government’s anti-epidemic measures must be science-based, with authorities mandate the testings once cases have emerged.

Seventeen buildings in Sham Shui Po, as well as parts of Jordan and Tin Shui Wai were locked down on Tuesday night for mandatory testing.

Ho Pak-leung, the head of the University of Hong Kong's Centre for Infection, said Heng Lok House of Tin Heng Estate in Tin Shui Wai, which is cordoned-off yesterday night, had its first case detected on January 24, with over eight infected so far.

“Authorities should take action once they detected the case, setting up mobile testing sites outside the building,” said Ho.

The microbiologist also noticed a decline in cases in Sha Shui Po and Yau Ma Tei recently, which he believes was due to the mandatory testing earlier, but not the lockdowns.

“When authorities cordoned-off specific areas, they should target those having high-risk of infection, but the data now shows otherwise. If the government’s operations are not based on scientific evidence, people will slowly lose confidence in them,” stressed Ho.

Meanwhile, infectious diseases expert Joseph Tsang Kay-yan said construction sites are now the hot zone of transmissions, where the government should allocate its resource to contain it.

“If authorities are to allocate its manpower to mandate testing for construction workers, the outcome would be much better. Or else, the workers will again bring the virus back to different communities, bringing us back to square one,” said Tsang.

President of Hong Kong Institute of Construction Managers, Tony Za Wai-gin said although construction sites have implemented anti-epidemic measures, most of the workers are not working at only one site, and it is unavoidable they will remove their mask to get some rest during work.

“We have suggested different sites to increase the number of container-converted rest areas for workers, splitting them when they get some rest. The rest areas will also be regularly disinfected to reduce the risk of infection,” he said.

Za also added that authorities should target construction sites to arrange them for more Covid testings.