[Explanation] Hong Kong's new crown pneumonia epidemic is severe, and a large number of local cases of unknown origin have recently appeared. In order to find invisible patients in the community as soon as possible, on the afternoon of August 7, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam announced that with the support of the central government, the Special Administrative Region government will provide citizens with free voluntary universal virus testing services to better understand the status of community infections. It will start in two weeks at the earliest.
[Concurrent] Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Since it is a popular arrangement, it means that as long as we have the testing capability and citizens who voluntarily undergo testing, we will arrange testing. This scale is quite large, and perhaps millions of Hong Kong citizens hope to be tested for the virus. In order for us to better grasp the infection situation in the community, identify invisible patients as soon as possible, and give the citizens peace of mind, we are very willing to start the "universal community testing" because we now have the power of the central government. We now estimate that it will be possible in two weeks. Unfold.
[Commentary] Carrie Lam said that at the request of the SAR government, the central government dispatched a nucleic acid testing support team in the Mainland and a local cabin hospital support team to assist the SAR government in strengthening virus testing capabilities and increasing community treatment facilities in a short period of time. In terms of virus testing, Hong Kong will expand its testing capabilities through three national testing service providers. In terms of community treatment facilities, the Asia Expo community treatment facility, known as the Hong Kong version of the "square cabin hospital", has been put into use, which will further add more than a thousand negative pressure beds. At the same time, a temporary hospital is being built next to the Asia Expo.
[Concurrent] Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Another "Huoshenshan" hospital, which can be called the Hong Kong version, was rebuilt. We found a piece of land, right next to the Asia Expo Hall, on a land of about 32,000 square meters. We hope to build a temporary hospital there. We see that this is not an immediate, short-term need, but that we will be better able to deal with sudden epidemics in the future.
[Commentary] Carrie Lam emphasized that the central government attaches great importance to the situation of the epidemic in Hong Kong, saying that it will provide all necessary support at any time at the request of the SAR government. It is hoped that Hong Kong society will fight the epidemic with the full support of the central government, so that citizens' lives and economic activities can return to normal as soon as possible.
Reporter Li Waner and Chen Haonan from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: [Chen Haifeng]