Coronavirus: Hong Kong to overhaul Covid-19 testing at quarantine hotels to improve quality control
- Possible measures include asking third party to carry out checks on specimen collection procedures in hotels and requiring nurses to take samples
- Revamp announced as officials confirmed three new cases, two of which are local infections and one imported
Permanent Secretary for Food and Health Thomas Chan Chung-ching on Friday said possible measures included asking a third party to carry out quality checks on specimen collection procedures in hotels and requiring nurses to take samples from those under quarantine.
The revamp was announced as officials confirmed three new coronavirus cases, taking the city’s total to 11,801. The related death toll remained at 210.
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Fewer than 10 people tested preliminary-positive.
“We are currently reviewing the control measures and test arrangements at designated hotels, and results will be announced later,” Chan told a press conference.
Infectious diseases experts had queried why four out of 11 locally detected variant cases were only identified after patients had completed their quarantine. They urged the government to investigate whether cross-infections were occurring in quarantine hotels or if testing procedures were carried out properly. They also called on the government to allow nurses or trained medical staff to take samples.
Specimens in the four cases were collected by mainland China-backed firm BGI, which was found to have contaminated samples in its lab last month. Health authorities asked the company for an investigation report.