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Gigi Choy

Hong Kong’s taxi drivers are being offered free testing for Covid-19 as part of the government’s effort to screen groups of workers and residents deemed at high risk of contracting the disease.
Under the plan announced this week, the government will also provide testing for elderly care homes, restaurant workers and property management employees.
Hong Kong recorded a record high of 67 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, of which 63 were locally transmitted, taking the tally to 1,655, with 10 related deaths.
At least 10 taxi drivers have been confirmed infected, with some linked to recent outbreaks at Sun Fat Restaurant in Jordan and Bun Kee Congee and Noodle Shop in Tsz Wan Shan.


Authorities have set up four temporary specimen collection centres, which will be open every day beginning on Sunday until August 1.
They are located at car parks on Rumsey Street in Sheung Wan, Shanghai Street in Yau Ma Tei, Kwai Yi Road in Kwai Chung and Castle Peak Road in Tsuen Wan. 
“I think passengers will be more relieved now that taxi drivers are able to get tested at least once for free,” said Wong Po-keung, chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Owners’ Association.
It will be better if there are more testing stations, which will make it more convenient for taxi drivers
Ng Kwan-sing, Taxi Council vice-chairman
Hong Kong’s more than 18,100 taxis have seen a decline in business since the pandemic emerged in the city in January, with average daily passenger journeys dropping to a provisional 550,100 in April compared with 861,000 a year before, down 36 per cent, according to the Transport Department.
The vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Taxi Council, Ng Kwan-sing, called on the government to expand the number of collection centres.
Hong Kong Covid-19 infections soar to record high of 67
“It will be better if there are more testing stations, which will make it more convenient for taxi drivers and stop them from congregating in the same areas,” Ng said. “I think this would encourage more cabbies to voluntarily get tested.”
The department said it would do so if necessary.

Drivers can register by phone beginning on Friday, but same-day appointments will not be available through the hotline. They are required to present a valid permanent identity card and taxi driver identity plate for verification.
A nasal swab test will be collected and delivered to laboratories for testing. If the driver tests positive, the contracted screening company will notify the department, which will send details to the Centre for Health Protection for follow-up.
“The registration process is a good thing as those who feel unwell or want to get tested can make an appointment first,” Ng said. “It will ensure that things won’t get too chaotic.”
HK$1 hotpot and half-price takeaway: restaurants react to new Covid-19 rules
South Korea first launched “drive-through” coronavirus testing facilities in February, which helped contain its outbreak, which at one point was the largest national total anywhere outside China.
Health workers in white protective suits and goggles register motorists, check their temperature and use swabs to take samples from their throat or nose.
Other countries such as the United States, France and Spain have also launched such “drive-through” centres in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 


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Coronavirus Hong Kong

Hong Kong third wave: taxi drivers to receive free coronavirus tests

At least 10 taxi drivers have been confirmed infected with coronavirus in Hong Kong. Photo: Winson Wong

FILE - In this March 1, 2020 file photo, medical staff wearing protective suits take samples from a person with suspected symptoms of the new coronavirus at a drive-thru virus test facility in Goyang, South Korea. When the first cases of the disease showed up in South Korea, they reacted quickly with the use of widespread testing, technology to trace at-risk groups, and strict social quarantines and distancing. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

Hong Kong third wave: 64-year-old could be first prosecuted for violating new public transport mask rules amid Covid-19 spike

MTR staff at Tai Wan station surround a man who holds a stick over his head after refusing to wear a mask. Photo: Handout

Commuters wearing mask on a bus in the city. 15JUL20 SCMP/ K. Y. Cheng

Hong Kong’s Covid-19 third wave ‘most severe’, with 61 new confirmed and provisional infections

Hong Kong is fighting its toughest battle with Covid-19 since the epidemic took hold, according to a senior health official. Photo: May Tse

Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee speaks during a radio program at RTHK in Kowloon Tong. 11JUL20 Photo: SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

A traveller arrives in Hong Kong via the Shenzhen Bay Port. 08FEB20 SCMP / Felix Wong

Hong Kong third wave: Covid-19 infections soar to record high of 67, more than half from unknown source

A top health expert has called for firms to encourage staff to keep away from the office as part of the effort to cut the chains of coronavirus transmission in Hong Kong. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Restaurants and eateries are prohibited from providing dine in services from 6pm to 5am for one week. Pictured at Mongkok. 15JUL20 SCMP/ Sam Tsang

Professor David Hui Shu-cheong to the press at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sha Tin, on findings in a community research during the Covid-19 outbreak. 18FEB20 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

A passenger holding a child pays for the tram fare before leaving the vehicle, Wan Chai. In an effort to battle the ‘third wave’ of coronavirus cases the government has tightened measures against the virus, passengers travelling on public transport are now required to wear face masks at all times. 15JUL20 SCMP / Nora Tam

Hong Kong third wave: chicken hotpot for HK$1 and half-price takeaway, restaurants slash prices as new social-distancing measures begin to bite

Hong Kong restaurants that struggled through the first two waves of the coronavirus have been hit again. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Empty restaurant is seen during the lunch time in the city. 15JUL20 SCMP/ Xiaomei Chen

Return of Lemak staffs Billy Cheung (L) handing the food to the customer takeaway, ban on dine-in services which begins on Wednesday after 6 pm. 15JUL20 SCMP/ May Tse

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment


Measure is part of government effort to screen groups deemed at high risk of contracting the virus
Drivers can book appointments by phone and drop off sample at any of four collection centres



Measure is part of government effort to screen groups deemed at high risk of contracting the virus. Drivers can book appointments by phone and drop off sample at any of four collection centres.


Hong Kong third wave: taxi drivers to receive free coronavirus tests

Measure is part of government effort to screen groups deemed at high risk of contracting the virus Drivers can book appointments by phone and drop off sample at any of four collection centres

Measure is part of government effort to screen groups deemed at high risk of contracting the virus

Drivers can book appointments by phone and drop off sample at any of four collection centres