More than half of Hong Kong workers lost income after testing positive for coronavirus, survey finds
- According to poll, 39 per cent of respondents were forced to take unpaid leave while undergoing compulsory isolation
- Of those used rapid antigen tests, a quarter said employers would not accept result as proof they had contracted Covid-19
More than half of Hong Kong workers have seen their incomes slashed after testing positive for Covid-19, with many forced to take unpaid leave while undergoing isolation, according to a new survey.
In the poll conducted by the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB) from Saturday to Monday, 1,022 respondents reported being employed at the time they tested positive for the coronavirus, with 278 receiving the result via government screening services and 744 via rapid antigen tests.
Fifty-seven per cent of respondents reported losing income as a result of their diagnosis, with 39 per cent saying they had been made to take unpaid time off for their compulsory isolation period.
Of those who used rapid antigen tests, a quarter said their employer did not accept the results as proof they had actually contracted Covid-19 without documentary confirmation from a government-designated clinic.
The government launched a platform for residents to obtain isolation orders after uploading their positive rapid antigen test result at 6pm on Monday.
Users must provide their personal details as well as those of their household members, their symptoms, the conditions of those living with them and the general living environment. They can download the isolation order after uploading a picture of their positive test result and their identity card via an SMS link.
Household members will also receive an SMS message to upload their details and download a quarantine order.