Editorial | Mass self-testing can help Hong Kong prepare for when next wave hits
- Officials will have a better understanding of the pandemic and what measures to adopt in future if as many city people as possible use their free antigen test kits
Coronavirus rapid antigen test kits have given authorities greater flexibility in dealing with outbreaks and tracing infected people. Their worth to the government’s dynamic-zero strategy was apparent at the height of the fifth wave, adding much-needed support for overwhelmed resources.
But with numbers now more manageable, they are being made available free to all residents to enable mass screening. The three-day period starting on Friday is voluntary, but the more who take part, the better an understanding officials will have of the pandemic and what measures to next adopt.
Outgoing Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has stressed the self-testing exercise is not an alternative to universal screening, which has been a successful weapon on the mainland to fight the coronavirus. But Hong Kong lacks the logistics and capacity of other Chinese cities and putting the necessary resources in place will take time.
Until then, rapid antigen tests offer a convenient and inexpensive way of gauging the extent of the disease, although they are not as accurate as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening carried out by public hospitals and the private sector. They also rely on the willingness of residents to participate by testing as instructed and report a positive result.
Authorities are counting on that support for the mass screening, under which residents are being asked to test once on each of the three days. Those testing positive are to use existing online or phone hotline systems to alert health authorities.