Mass Testing Yields Low Results

Sophia Chan (third from left) hoped 4 million to 5 million would be tested

Today was the last day of the universal community testing programme to test all Hong Kong residents for the coronavirus for free.

Here are some of the statistics: 1.783 million people took the test, which is about 25 percent of the Hong Kong population, though the program only found 32 positive cases, half of which were asymptomatic.

There were around 140 testing sites all over Hong Kong

What is interesting is that a number of people repeatedly took the test, and 301 used someone else's HKID, and signed them up without knowing, which led to 161 of those being referred to the police.

Also some of the people were forced to take the test by their Chinese employers as part of their work performance.

Before the mass testing program started, Health Secretary Sophia Chan Siu-chee expected 4 million to 5 million people would take part, though her boss, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor later said there was no target number.

Medical experts said there were a few reasons for the low turnout and numbers of asymptomatic cases.

Dr Hui says the downward trend led to fewer people tested

"There was a downward trend of cases [when the scheme started], and therefore fewer infections were identified," said Professor David Hui Shu-cheong of Chinese University.

"The public also felt they had lower risk and thus fewer people went for the test."

Another issue was people had to wait three to four days to get their results and would not necessarily isolate at home during that period and could have spread the virus.

Nevertheless, the Centre for Health Protection's Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan defended the program, saying: "The universal community testing programme can help us find some of the silent cases which otherwise may not be found... because some are asymptomatic and are not from the high-risk groups."

When reporters asked if another mass testing program would happen, Chuang said no, as it is difficult to organize, though out-patient clinics would still provide specimen bottles for those who wanted to get tested.

One-quarter of Hong Kong's population got tested

However, when Qiu Hong, deputy head of Beijing's liaison office in Hong Kong says the motherland will always be Hong Kong's strongest supporter, and that the city had to be able to defeat the outbreak and recover, there is always the possibility the central government will mobilize yet another mass testing exercise...