Foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong can take a free COVID-19 test starting Friday, authorities said amid fears of an outbreak among migrant workers.
The announcement came as a cluster linked to a boarding house for helpers in Tai Po grew to 12, including the employer of one of the workers and her family members.
According to health officials, 33 individuals—including helpers and their employers—classified as close contact with the patients will be quarantined.
“We encourage foreign domestic helpers to actively participate in the free test to safeguard their health and that of their employers’ families,” a spokesman for the Food and Health Bureau said.
Domestic helpers can take the test at any of the 18 community testing centers across the city until Jan. 31.
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To take the COVID-19 test, helpers should make an online booking on the community testing center website. If an appointment is not made beforehand, the testing service will cost HK$240 (US$30).
Those who test negative will be notified via SMS. If the person tests positive, the case will be referred to the Department of Health for a confirmatory test.
In addition to the one-off free testing specific to domestic helpers, they can continue to use other free testing channels offered by the government, such as by taking COVID-19 specimen collection packs at post offices, MTR stations or designated general outpatient clinics at public hospitals.
The community testing centers are open every day from 8am to 8pm. Deep cleaning and disinfection will be carried out at the centers twice a day, according to authorities.
