Health officials closed 19 mobile Covid testing stations around town on Saturday, as Hong Kong shifted its testing strategy to cope with the surge of infections of recent weeks.

To relieve the burden on overwhelmed public laboratories, the government announced a series of policy changes on Friday, including its decision to distribute rapid test kits to places at risk, instead of issuing compulsory testing orders.

People who test positive through rapid test kits will also no longer need to submit a deep throat saliva sample for confirmation.

In a statement, authorities said testing stations, including the ones at Southorn Playground, Cheung Sha Wan Sports Centre and Tsz Wan Shan Community Hall, had ceased operation.

“The number of mobile specimen collection stations will be suitably reduced in respect of the updated priorities,” the statement read.

Speaking to RTHK, some citizens praised the policy change, saying rapid tests offered results very quickly and were more convenient.

Others, however, thought community testing stations were still useful.

One person was concerned about the accuracy of rapid tests, saying having someone collect a specimen at the testing station was still more reliable.

Another at a testing station said the rapid tests he ordered hadn’t yet arrived, and he needs a negative result before he goes to work.