Findings from the first public COVID-19 temporary test centre in Hong Kong

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• A temporary COVID-19 testing center was established in Hong Kong to assess high-risk individuals for SARS-CoV-2.
• Early identification of infections is crucial for controlling community spread of respiratory illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics and outcomes of individuals tested at the temporary COVID-19 center.
• To identify clinical factors associated with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cross-sectional study analyzing epidemiological and clinical data.
• SARS-CoV-2 testing using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on pooled nasopharyngeal and throat swabs.
• Multivariable binary logistic regression to assess relationships between clinical characteristics and positive test results.

Main Results:

• Out of 1258 attendees, 86 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (6.84% positivity rate).
• A significant proportion of positive cases (46.5%) were young adults (15-24 years) with recent travel history (94.2%).
• Anosmia (ORadj=8.30) and fever (ORadj=1.32) were strongly associated with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results.

Conclusions:

• The temporary test center effectively identified individuals with mild COVID-19 symptoms.
• Healthcare providers should consider epidemiological and clinical features for early COVID-19 testing to mitigate community transmission.