Government

Hong Kong installs vending machines to provide COVID-19 testing kits at rail stations

Photo courtesy of MRT Corp.

December 23, 2020

To facilitate the government's Enhanced Laboratory Surveillance Program for the public to access COVID-19 testing service with convenience, MTR Corp., a state owned corporation that runs mass transit railway, has installed vending machines at 10 MTR stations providing COVID-19 testing kits, according to a press release.

About 10,000 COVID-19 testing kits per day are supplied by a government contractor and distributed to the vending machines located in these stations. Each station has a fixed supply each day and each person can collect one kit while stocks last. An initial 10,000 kits were sold out on day one.

Members of the public can collect a kit free of charge by scanning their Octopus transit card at the stations during operating hours. The MTR Mobile provides information about the supply of COVID-19 testing kits including whether stations are out of stock or kits are still available.

Saliva specimens are collected by the kits and returned to designated government-run collection points for processing. No appointments are necessary.

Signage at the stations reminds the public of the locations of the vending machines, and MTR has deployed additional manpower to maintain order around the vending machines.