While the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided recently, I understand that our colleagues have not relaxed their anti-epidemic efforts. Instead, they are working even more fervently against time in preparation for the Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP) set to commence on 1 September. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank every colleague who has contributed to the UCTP.
The implementation of the UCTP, coordinated by the Civil Service Bureau, involves the collaboration of a number of policy bureaux and departments. The UCTP, which will be carried out in a total of around 140 community testing centres (CTC) across the territory, is scheduled to run for seven days and may be extended, subject to progress, for no more than seven days. Conducting testing for millions of people in as short as one to two weeks is by no means easy, as it entails enormous planning, coordination, liaison and support work. For the programme to be launched successfully, it requires the cooperation of bureaux/departments and the concerted and committed efforts of colleagues to solve various kinds of issues.
We have recruited approximately 6 000 healthcare personnel in the past two weeks to form medical teams for specimen collection, and will deploy more than 4 000 serving or retired civil servants to take up registration, administrative support and centre management duties at the CTC. Their responses are very encouraging. We are pressing ahead with the training, allocation and deployment of manpower with a view to implementing the UCTP efficiently and bringing convenience to the public.
To protect the safety of all participants at the CTC, including participating members of the public and staff, each centre has been assessed by the professional staff of the Department of Health and the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, and will put in place all feasible social distancing and infection control measures. Arrangements will also be made for all centres to be disinfected by designated staff twice a day, once during the noon break and then a thorough disinfection when testing of the day is over.
With the epidemic on the wane recently, it inevitably calls into question the urgency of the UCTP. Universal community testing is another crucial form of testing apart from epidemiological testing and target group testing for high-risk sectors. The purpose of providing a one-off free testing for the public is to identify as early as possible the asymptomatic patients in the community and achieve the target of early identification, early isolation and early treatment for cutting the community transmission chain. It is also to brace ourselves for the possible occurrence of yet another wave of community outbreaks in winter. The COVID-19 pandemic is not as predictable as anticipated. There has been a resurgence of the epidemic in many parts of the world even in the hot summer. The situation in winter should be a cause for greater concern.
The preparations for the UCTP are nearing completion. Things are all set and ready to go, and what we are looking forward to is the enthusiastic participation of the public, including our colleagues in the Government. Therefore, I appeal to you for your joint support by taking the test and encouraging active participation from those close to you, not only for the sake of yourself, your family, colleagues and friends, but also for the well-being of the whole community. The Civil Service Bureau has issued guidelines to Heads of Departments requesting them to allow flexibility for colleagues to participate in the testing. Cutting the transmission chain within the community as soon as possible is essential for curbing the third wave of the epidemic, thereby bringing our lives and the economic activities of society back to normal. We believe that Hong Kong can win the fight against the pandemic.