Some elderly resent PCR test requirement for hospital visits

Some elderly in the city are finding it troublesome after the Hospital Authority stepped up its Covid test requirements for hospital visitors to prevent outbreaks.

Starting Monday, all visitors of public hospitals, including those who have recovered from Covid-19, must provide a negative Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid test result obtained within 48 hours.

Speaking to reporters at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, an elderly said the new arrangement has made visiting patients at hospitals inconvenient.

The elderly noted that under the new rules, he was required to first check with the hospital the available time slots to make the visit, and arrange the PCR testing accordingly.

Meanwhile, another hospital visitor said screening visitors using rapid antigen tests are already good enough.

Health authorities had announced earlier that prospective visitors may get a free virus test at community testing centers or mobile specimen collection stations if they indicate to the on-site staff that they are taking the test for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements for visiting patients in public hospitals.

Authorities reiterated that visitors are required to comply with Vaccine Pass requirements. Those holding a Covid-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificate with a valid exemption in the Vaccine Pass are allowed to visit patients as long as they fulfil the new testing requirements.
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