Regular Testing at Sites Protect Workforce from COVID-19

20210223 Regular Testing at sites - CICxHKCA poster.jpg

Introduction

The COVID-19 epidemic continues its rampage. The Construction Industry Council (CIC) and the Hong Kong Construction Association (HKCA) strongly urge the construction industry to fully implement compulsory testing measures, which require all site staff to present negative COVID-19 test result issued within the past 14 days when entering construction sites for work. With the support from the Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the CIC and the HKCA urge all construction sites in Hong Kong that the aforementioned measures shall be launched from 16 February and in full implementation starting from 22 February.

The Food and Health Bureau announced on 29 March that vaccine recipients should have developed immunity after receiving two doses of vaccines, plus an interval of 14 days after the second dose, hence, they have fulfilled the requirement for regular COVID-19 testing. The aforementioned implementation is now adopted in the construction industry, which means site staff would have met the requirement of regular testing arrangement at sites after 14 days of having received the second dose of vaccine*. The vaccination record will replace the negative test result when entering construction sites for work.

* For persons previously infected with COVID-19, they may be deemed to have completed the COVID-19 vaccination course after receiving one dose of Comirnaty vaccine or one dose of CoronaVac vaccine (Sinovac).

Testing services include the followings:

Site staff may consider the free specimen collection packs distribution and collection service provided by the Hospital Authority for the general public. Site staff could collect deep throat saliva specimen collection packs at its 47 general out-patient clinics, 121 post offices or 20 MTR stations and return specimen to the designated collection points.
Site staff may also undergo testing at mobile specimen collection stations in various districts.
The Food and Health Bureau provides a free COVID-19 testing service every 14 days to construction site personnel (including registered construction workers; and other resident site personnel employed by contractors / consultants / developers) at Community Testing Centres.

With effect from 24 May, in order to continue to book for a free testing service, construction site personnel is required to present (i) a medical certificate showing that they are unfit to receive COVID-19 vaccination because of health reasons; or (ii) a vaccination record (such as by downloading their electronic vaccination records or saving the printouts of their vaccination records to their mobile phones, or bringing along the printouts or copies of their vaccination records) showing that they have received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Those without the required documents will need to pay for the testing service.

Contractors are advised to assist their construction site personnel to make online reservation through the “Community Testing Centre Booking System” in advance. Participants are required to present the Construction Workers Registration Card issued by the CIC or a letter issued by their main contractor as identity proof for the resident site personnel of their respective site for verification on the testing day. Those who have no appointment or cannot present the relevant documents will need to pay for the testing service at HK$240. 21 Community Testing Centres will also provide self-paid COVID-19 testing service.

Click here to download Sample of "Proof of Identity of Testee"
Contractors are also advised to recruit local medical testing institutions recognised by the HKSAR Government to conduct COVID-19 nucleic acid test, arranging specimen collection packs distribution and specimen collection service at sites to facilitate testing.

Site staff may obtain their electronic testing record through the “COVID-19 Electronic Vaccination and Testing Record System” to facilitate onsite checking.

The CIC, the HKCA and the HKSAR Government will jointly conduct regular inspections to ensure that all site staff receive negative test result, and will review the measures and make adjustments as appropriate.

The CIC and the HKCA hope the industry fight the virus together and encourage workers and other resident site personnel to join the vaccination programme to better protect themselves while saving time and resources needed for regular testing for every 14 days. The CIC and the HKCA advise that those who have not administered vaccine should undergo testing promptly. Thorough cleaning and disinfection of construction sites should be conducted and precautionary measures should be adopted to maintain workplace hygiene.　

Meanwhile, the CIC and its Hong Kong Institute of Construction and Hong Kong Construction Industry Trade Testing Centre request all staff, full-time students, trade test candidates and staff of out-source contractors to present negative test result when entering the buildings starting from 16 February and in full implementation on 22 February.

In response to the COVID-19, the CIC has joined hands with the industry to launch the “Construction Industry Caring Campaign - Fight against Novel Coronavirus” to provide monetary assistance and caring support for the registered construction workers who receive a compulsory quarantine or are confirmed as infected with COVID-19, and hope for the active support of different sectors of the community.