Private clinics urged to step up testing

June 1, 2020

(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

 

The Department of Health today urged private doctors to be vigilant by offering COVID-19 testing for patients who come to them with symptoms, even if the symptoms are mild.


Briefing the media this afternoon, Under Secretary for Food & Health Dr Chui Tak-yi said the co-operation of doctors in the private sector is very important in identifying suspected cases.

 

“There are maybe close to 7,000 doctors working in the private sector. So if they can be vigilant enough and also offer tests for patients who attend their clinic presenting with respiratory symptoms or mild symptoms that are suggestive of COVID-19, then of course that would become a very extensive network to facilitate community testing.“

 

Noting that local infection cases have occurred sporadically, Dr Tsui called on members of the public to seek medical advice as soon as they develop respiratory or mild symptoms, and proactively discuss with their doctors whether testing should be conducted.

 

“We also would like to call for the alertness and also co-operation of citizens in general because many of them when they suffer from a very mild illness they may choose not to go to a doctor.

 

“There are still sporadic local cases and also potential local clusters because we do not know yet how extensive this current cluster is, so we need time to establish and we cannot predict which local case can become a bigger local cluster.”

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