Exclude pregnant mothers from more frequent Covid tests : civil servant unionist

Hong Kong civil servants with special needs, such as pregnant women, should be allowed to skip more frequent Covid-19 tests, said Federation of Civil Service Unions' chairman Leung Chau-ting.

Unvaccinated civil servants could soon be required to undergo Covid-19 testing weekly, up from the current requirement of once every two weeks, Secretary for the Civil Service Patrick Nip Tak-kuen revealed on Sunday, and he called for the private sector to follow suit.

On a radio program on Monday, unionist Leung said discretion should be given to civil servants with special needs, including pregnant women, if the government decides to execute the plan.

He said some pregnant women have chosen not to get the jab before giving birth as they are worried that taking the Covid vaccine would affect their babies.

“Such cases should not warrant a medical certificate from doctors proving they are unfit for vaccination,” said Leung.

However, he agreed that the stepped-up test requirement would encourage more people to get the jab, or they will have to spend more money and time for the Covid testings.