Regular rapid testing measures at residential and community care institutions extended until Jan. 31, 2023


PublishTime:2022-12-22
On December 22, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that the government-funded regular rapid testing measures in all residential and community-based care institutions have been extended by another month until January 31, 2023. The frequency of rapid tests remains to be once every week for care recipients (one test each week for persons with mental or physical disabilities, persons with dementia, and people aged 2-18, and no tests for children under 2 years of age). They need to take a rapid test if symptoms develop, while individuals under two years of age will receive a PCR test if symptoms develop. Staff at such institutions need to take a rapid test if they experience symptoms. Furthermore, if institutions deem it necessary to give staff a COVID-19 test (due to their history of contact or cluster), they can offer government-funded rapid tests to their staff. Residents or care recipients and staff who have recovered from COVID-19 are exempted from testing within three months. The rules for how often rapid tests are performed will be adjusted in due course based on the pandemic situation.