In this July 10, 2022 photo, Hong Kong's Secretary for Health Professor Lo Chung-mau (first right), accompanied by the Chief Port Health Officer of the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health Dr Leung Yiu-hong (second right), inspects the workflow for special nucleic acid testing before departure at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT))
HONG KONG – An online system for northbound residents to book COVID-19 tests at Shenzhen Bay Port will be introduced later this week to facilitate a smoother passage after large crowds were seen at the border waiting for tests on Sunday.
Hong Kong's Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau told a local radio station on Monday that due to the lack of a booking system for nucleic acid tests, which are required to be taken at the port before entering the mainland, about 1,200 people had to wait at the port for three hours to be tested on Sunday morning, causing long queues.
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The initial idea is that those who test positive will be issued with a “red code”, and those who are undergoing quarantine – especially those returning to Hong Kong from overseas – will be issued with a “yellow code”, he revealed.
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The initial idea is that those who test positive will be issued with a “red code”, and those who are undergoing quarantine – especially those returning to Hong Kong from overseas – will be issued with a “yellow code”, he revealed.
To shorten the waiting time at the port, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government aims to launch a reservation system for COVID tests early this week. With these measures in place, up to 500 people are expected to be able to pass through the port per hour, and the waiting time for each visitor will be shortened to less than two hours, Lo said.
In addition, Lo said the government is actively considering optimizing the LeaveHomeSafe app, including requiring all users to register with their real names to prevent confirmed patients from entering designated venues.
With reference to the mainland’s practice, the app will also launch a health code system to restrict high-risk people who have not undergone compulsory testing from entering certain premises, Lo said.
The initial idea is that those who test positive will be issued with a “red code”, and those who are undergoing quarantine – especially those returning to Hong Kong from overseas – will be issued with a “yellow code”, he revealed.
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As for close contacts, Lo said issuing them with a “yellow code” was not currently under consideration.