Carrie Lam thanks all as universal testing comes to an end

HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Tuesday expressed her gratitude to those who made it possible to conduct for two weeks the universal free coronavirus testing.

She thanked 6,000 local medical professionals, 4,000 civil servants, community leaders, logistics workers as well as a mainland medical team consisting of more than 570 members for their involvement in the program that had identified by Monday 32 people infected with COVID-19.

More than 1.78 million people got tested through the program which began on Sept 1 and ended on Monday, according to official figures.

Speaking to reporters before her weekly Executive Council meeting, Lam said a third tranche of anti-epidemic funding would be announced shortly and promised further relaxation of social distancing rules.