Centres Fully Booked As Workers Rush To Get Tested

"); jQuery("#212 h3").html("

Related News Programmes

"); });

2021-02-15 HKT 12:23

Share this story

facebook

  • Centres fully booked as workers rush to get tested

Hong Kong's 19 coronavirus testing centres are virtually fully booked for the next three days, as restaurants gear up for longer working hours and other businesses - such as gyms, cinemas and massage parlours - prepare to reopen on Thursday.

The rush to get tested comes after the government last Wednesday announced the relaxation of some social distancing measures, provided staff are tested for the coronavirus every two weeks and the government's contact-tracing app is used, or personal details are recorded. Workers have until February 25 to get a test.

At a testing centre in Tuen Mun, several dozen people had already formed a queue ahead of the centre opening at 9 am. A restaurant worker said he had been unable to book and had queued up for walk-in services on Sunday but hadn't been able to get a slot. He said his boss wanted a negative test result for Wednesday, when he had to go in.

At a centre in Causeway Bay, Ms Ip, a yoga teacher, said she was quickly allowed to take a test after paying HK$240. She said she had tried to make a booking online for a free test five days ago but it was already fully booked. She said, while she doesn't mind paying so she can return to work at a fitness centre, she believes it may be tough for others

From Thursday, restaurants will be able to offer dine-in services until 10 pm instead of the current 6 pm and four people will be allowed at each table, instead of two.

The government has said the relaxation of the measures still depend on the Covid-19 situation here remaining stable.

RECENT NEWS

Ping An P&C And FAW Hongqi Launch Hongqi Intelligent Driving Protection Services

Ping An Property & Casualty Insurance Company of China (Ping An P&C), a subsidiary of Ping An Insurance, has pa... Read more

HKSTP European Innovation Mixer Tour Nurtures Global Ties For Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP), led by CEO Albert Wong, conducted the HKSTP European In... Read more

The Full List Of Fintech Unicorns In Hong Kong (2025)

Hong Kong’s fintech landscape has evolved into a dynamic force in Asia, driven by regulatory innovation, technologica... Read more

HKSTPs EPIC 2025 Competition Returns, Doubling Investment Pool To US$100M

The 9th edition of the Elevator Pitch International Competition, also known as the EPIC 2025 competition, officially op... Read more

RedotPay Secures $40 Million Series A Funding, To Advance Global Crypto Payment Solutions

RedotPay secures $40 million Series A funding, marking a major milestone for the crypto payment platform. The announcem... Read more

BOOM Hits $2 Billion In AUM, Reinvesting Into Crypto And Tokenised Securities

BOOM, a Hong Kong-based online investing platform for high-net-worth individuals, announced on 12 March 2025 that it ex... Read more