中華人民共和國香港特別行政區政府總部食物及衞生局 , Government Secretariat The Government of the Kong Special Administrative Region The People’s Republic of China

17 April 2020

Dear Doctor,

Thank you for your unfailing support in fighting against COVID-19. With the dramatic reduction in the number of inbound arrivals, the community- wide effort to adhere to masking, observance of hand and personal hygiene and social distancing as well as the COVID-19 tests for targeted groups , the number of confirmed cases in has receded recently. That said, we are wary that the COVID-19 transmission chains may still be lurking around. Some COVID-19 infected people could be asymptomatic and could well be exposing high-risk groups like elders to the disease. Testing for COVID-19 therefore remains a core component in our sustained fight against the disease.

As doctors enrolled in the Primary Care Directory, I am sure you share our vision and commitment to the provision of directly accessible, comprehensive, continuing, co-ordinated and person-centred primary care services. Many of you are also family doctors of members of the public and would be their first point of contact in the healthcare system. I therefore appeal to you to support the enhanced laboratory surveillance for COVID-19 at your clinics and collect specimens as many patients as possible, in particular the elderly population. Compared to other age groups, the elderly are more susceptible to the serious health hazards or even casualties posed by COVID-19. In case you or your team identify fever, respiratory or other symptoms amongst your elder patients or their close contacts, please arrange COVID-19 test as appropriate in order to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus in our community.

As you are probably aware, the Public Health Laboratory Centre (PHLC) under the Department of Health (DH) has developed an open network with all private medical practitioners who can arrange – either through their established partnering laboratories or directly with PHLC, for their patients to be tested for COVID-19. To facilitate the return of specimens, PHLC has arranged collection points at 13 DH outlets. Two member companies of the Cyberport Start-up Alumni Associations, namely GoGoVan and HK Pick-Up Limited provide pick- up and delivery services at a fee to patients who have been arranged with COVID- 19 testing by private doctors under the Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Programme. As of 15 April 2020, about 86 COVID-19 cases had been detected via Tier 5 surveillance, giving a positive rate of about 1.29%. As we soldier on in this fight against COVID-19, DH and its PHLC are prepared to continue stretching their testing capacities to the limit to support more tests for elders and related service providers.

For details of specimen collection and arrangements provided by the PHLC, please refer to CHP’s letters with date below:  08 Apr 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200408.pdf  06 Apr 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200406.pdf  11 Mar 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200311.pdf  06 Mar 2020 - https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/letters_to_doctors_20200306.pdf

All said, we are here to serve. Testing is available. For enquiries, please contact PHLSB (Tel: 2319 8360) or email to [email protected].

Thank you very much for your support in the prevention and control of COVID-19.

Together, We Fight the Virus!

Yours sincerely,

(Prof. Sophia Siu Chee CHAN) Secretary for Food and Health