Hong Kong to distribute about 60,000 RAT kits following sewage COVID-19 detection

HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said Friday that it will distribute about 60,000 sets of COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to people in an area of the city as part of a follow-up on recent detection of the COVID-19 virus in sewage samples.

The test kits will be distributed to residents, cleaning workers, and property management staff working in an estate in Sai Kung District with positive sewage testing results showing relatively high viral loads, in order to help identify infected persons, it said.

The HKSAR government also urged RAT kit users to report any positive results for COVID-19 via the government's online platform.

In an effort to combat COVID-19, the HKSAR government's Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have strengthened the sampling of sewage in all districts of Hong Kong for COVID-19 virus testing.

On Friday, Hong Kong registered 199 new COVID-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 300 additional cases through self-reported rapid antigen tests, official data showed.