An amended compulsory testing notice for staff of residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs), residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) and nursing homes has been issued to offer more testing means for them.

The Secretary for Food & Health amended the notice issued for the seventh round of compulsory testing for care home staff on February 3 and issued an amended notice on February 16.

The amended notice covers those employed by and will be on duty at RCHEs, RCHDs, nursing homes and day service units attached to residential care homes from February 21 to March 2, requiring them to undergo COVID-19 nucleic acid tests from February 7 to 20 according to the amended requirements and procedure.

It also covers those who will provide services to residents or users through hire-of-service contracts during that period.

The additional testing means include obtaining a specimen bottle from one of the 121 post offices, 47 Hospital Authority (HA) general out-patient clinics or vending machines at 20 MTR stations to collect a deep throat saliva sample and return the specimen bottle, or undergoing the test as instructed by a medical professional at HA general out-patient clinics.

Meanwhile, relevant staff may choose to get tested at community testing centres, mobile specimen collection stations or self-arrange testing in laboratories recognised by the Government at their own expense.

They can also undergo testing arranged by institution operators at government-recognised laboratories.

Those who will undergo testing at community testing centres should make advance booking via the booking system for the free testing service, the Social Welfare Department said.

Institution operators should remind their staff to properly keep the SMS notifications or reports of their test results.

They are also required to keep records of staff members who receive the virus test and the results, and co-operate with the department's officers who enforce relevant regulations at residential care homes.