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

The Government today launched an online reporting platform for people who test positive for COVID-19 using rapid antigen tests.

At a press briefing this afternoon, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection Dr Edwin Tsui explained the purpose of the new platform that was put into effect at 6pm.

“First, because the Rapid Antigen Test is quite a popular and easy-to-use test in Hong Kong, it gives a relatively reliable result, so it is a very good tool to employ at home, for early detection of COVID-19 and early isolation, to help the Government and also the public to curb the spread of the disease in the community.

“The second purpose is to assist the Department of Health to get more comprehensive and more updated information of the current disease situation in Hong Kong. The platform will also help to expedite the support, both medically and also other social support, for the confinees who stay at home.

“It will also provide help to facilitate the process. We will issue some supporting documents, like the isolation order and also the quarantine order, for those in need when they stay at home - because we receive quite a number of enquiries about how to receive such documentation when they are staying at home for isolation or quarantine.

“So the whole platform helps to expedite the public health measures and also provides a means for us to provide more medical and social support to those confinees, and also for documentation purposes for those who need any documents.”

The centre will issue isolation orders, via SMS messages, for those who successfully report their cases with all the required information, along with quarantine orders for their relatives.

The recipients will carry out the order either at a facility or at home, Dr Tsui added.