The Government today announced that it will provide a free COVID-19 testing service for the elderly aged 70 or above at around 100 community testing centres (CTCs) and mobile specimen collection stations without prior booking. 

It noted that the fifth wave of the epidemic has remained dire in recent days, and the risk of serious illness and death upon contraction of COVID-19 is very high for the elderly, in particular those aged 70 or above and not yet vaccinated.

Taking into account the needs of the elderly, the Government explained that it will provide a free COVID-19 nucleic acid test, with swab samples collected by professionals, so that they can seek timely medical attention and receive suitable diagnosis and treatment. 

Those who test negative for the virus should visit any CTCs nearby to get vaccinated, the Government said.

Additionally, it encouraged seniors to make use of the rapid antigen test kits in the anti-epidemic service bags distributed from today by the Government to conduct testing on their own.

They should also wear the KN95 masks provided in the bag of supplies when they go out or receive visitors at home. 

Meanwhile, the Government emphasised that it will continue to conduct large-scale COVID-19 testing for staff of individual sectors under high-risk or high-exposure groups.

It stated that given the higher infection risks of targeted group persons, only those who have tested positive in the past month can be temporarily exempted from undergoing the regular nucleic acid compulsory testing.

In general, only people in such targeted groups who are vaccinated or those who are unfit for vaccination because of health reasons are eligible for receiving free COVID-19 testing at CTCs.

The Food & Health Bureau said that providing free tests for targeted groups involves the use of public resources. Given that the Government must uphold the principle of effective use of resources, public money should only be used to subsidise individual eligible people for taking nucleic acid tests in very exceptional situations.

It added that the Government regularly reviews the coverage and frequency of targeted group testing and if such testing should be publicly funded based on the latest epidemic risk assessment.

The free testing arrangement will be available until the end of April.