A total of 300,000 rapid COVID-19 test kits are ready to be distributed free of charge to Hong Kong residents, especially high-risk groups such as nursing home employees, sanitation workers, security staff, and taxi and bus drivers.
The test kits were scheduled to arrive in Hong Kong on Thursday and Friday, and will be handed out to Hong Kong residents through a number of charitable and nonprofit organizations.
The test kits were jointly donated by Hong Kong-headquartered C-MER Eye Care Holdings Ltd. and Shenzhen-based Shenzhen YHLO Biotech Co. Ltd. on Wednesday. The two companies each donated 150,000 test kits.
The first batch of eight partners are Hong Kong Family Welfare Society, the Hong Kong Society for the Aged, Hong Kong PHAB Association, the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, Asbury Methodist Social Service, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, and the Neighborhood Advice-Action Council.
“The onslaught of the fifth COVID wave has been intensifying in Hong Kong. Citizens have a high demand for virus detection, but there are currently insufficient supplies of rapid test kits on the market,” said Dennis Lam, chairman and CEO of C-MER Eye Care.
According to Lam, the cooperation reflects the two companies’ efforts to actively fulfill corporate social responsibility and confirms the mainland’s strong support for Hong Kong’s anti-COVID efforts.
The YHLO-developed rapid self-testing kits are simple to use, and the test results can be obtained in as little as 15 minutes.
Johnny Ho, corporate affairs executive of Baptist Oi Kwan Social Service, said that they are in desperate need of rapid test kits, and will distribute the donated test kits to their service users including mental health patients, the elderly and low-income families.
According to YHLO, the test kits have received CE certification, an EU safety directive, and will be supplied to foreign countries in the future. The company will prioritize ensuring supply in Hong Kong to meet the high demand for rapid testing.
Other Shenzhen companies have also worked to ensure that goods supply to Hong Kong is safe, stable and sufficient during the city’s COVID surge.
According to Shenzhen Agricultural Industry Leading Enterprise Association, partial statistics showed that 10 key Shenzhen enterprises involved in supplying goods to Hong Kong have delivered over 200 tons of meat and 1,500 tons of vegetables to Hong Kong since the beginning of February.
Shenzhen has also stepped up disinfection at key locations such as operation points and checkpoints, as well as cross-border vehicles, to ensure the safety of the entire cross-border transportation process’ epidemic prevention.