Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau visited a community testing centre (CTC) today to learn more about its operation and ability to provide information and assistance to the public due to the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Furthermore, on account of the resumption of normal travel, the Government announced it will extend its testing service to young children aged under three.

Prof Lo visited the testing centre at To Kwa Wan Sports Centre to get a better grasp of the operation of the nucleic acid testing arrangement in relation to the first phase of the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, which took effect from yesterday.

He was pleased to see that the centre has been operating smoothly, with staff being able to provide the required information and help to the public, appropriate crowd control measures are in place inside and outside the centre and the manner in which people are undergoing tests is being done in an orderly process.

Prof Lo said: “I am glad to note that community testing service contractors have actively deployed manpower and resources to cater for the resumption of normal travel, including setting up more self-paid service counters at testing points to reduce the on-site waiting time of testees.

“The Government will continue to closely monitor the testing demand and maintain communication with contractors to make corresponding adjustments to the number and service hours of testing facilities in accordance with actual circumstances with a view to further enhancing the testing capacity when required.”

He added that since January 6, an average of more than 25,000 self-paid nucleic acid tests have been conducted each day at all CTCs and community testing stations (CTSs) across the city and testing capacity is still sufficient.

Although the LeaveHomeSafe system ceased operation, he encourages the public continue to keep using the testing registration code in the application so as to ensure the accuracy of the registered information and enjoy a smoother and quicker testing process.

Additionally, the Government announced that in view of the needs arising from the resumption of normal travel, upon assessment of operational experience, CTCs and CTSs will extend their testing services to young children aged under three starting tomorrow.