School staff virus tests set

November 3, 2020

Free COVID-19 testing for teachers and staff in kindergartens and primary, secondary and special schools will be arranged from November 9, the Education Bureau announced today.

 

The COVID-19 Targeted Group Testing Scheme for staff of special schools' boarding sections will also be stepped up from the same day.

 

Testing will be conducted on a voluntary basis.

 

Taking schools as a unit, the bureau will sample about 2% of teaching and non-teaching staff in Hong Kong for a deep throat saliva test on each school day.

 

The number of schools sampled may be adjusted according to the data obtained with a view to conducting testing for all 130,000 school staff in the city.


School staff and special school boarding section staff joining the scheme should register the relevant information at the government website and collect the specimens themselves.

 

They should return the specimen bottles to schools on the specified dates for the contractor to conduct the testing.

 

The specimen bottles will not indicate any personal information and the testing contractor will not collect any personal information.

 

Staff will be informed of the results by short messaging service (SMS).

 

Cases that test positive will be referred to the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up action.

 

The bureau stressed that the scheme mainly targets school staff and special school boarding section staff who have not had any signs of illness.

 

If any school staff feel unwell, they are advised not return to the school and seek medical advice promptly.

 

For school staff and students who perceive themselves to have a higher risk of infection and mild discomfort, the bureau encourages them to receive testing at the Hospital Authority's general outpatient clinics or accident and emergency departments.

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