The 2021 UCI Track Cycling Nations Cup (Hongkong, China) rounded off in Hong Kong on May 16th. It has been the first large-scale international sports event held in Hong Kong since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. And it was held behind closed doors in a form called "safety bubble". Hybribio’s Hong Kong Molecular Pathology Center (HK-MPDC) was responsible for the pandemic prevention and control arrangements, nucleic acid testing and emergency medical services. The chairman of the Nations Cup Hong Kong organizing committee, Simon Leung Chi-wa, said that the "safety bubble" was highly affirmed by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Under the pandemic situation, this world-class track cycling event has attracted more attention. Relying on the accumulated experience of participating in the anti-pandemic activities both in Mainland and Hong Kong, China, Hybribio implemented the pre-match pandemic preventions in hotels and venues, infection control measures and proposal provision, “bubble plan” design, etc. Besides, Hybribio provided all participants, judges, staff and officials with antibody and antigen nucleic acid testing as required which was carried out every 48 hours.

Since it has been the first large-scale international sports event at home and abroad after the outbreak of COVID-19, there was no protection scheme that could be used as a reference. Through in-depth research and careful study, the Hybribio team had communicated and coordinated with the organizers for many times, and eventually reached a feasible safety plan with the international organizers and various departments of Hong Kong government, striving to provide fully protection for the athletes and all other people in the venues and ensure the smooth progress of the event.

Hybribio Hong Kong team providing emergency medical services on event site

The chairman of the organizing committee, Simon Leung Chi-wa, pointed out that the entire plan was determined after discussions with various parties including the Hong Kong government, and doctors and experts of coronavirus pneumonia, and was affirmed by UCI as well as the visiting team. He said, "athletes see that our measures are rigorous, so they feel at ease about the entire prevention system. UCI also spoke highly of it, and the response was positive during the meeting."

UCI will host the next Nations Cup in Colombia from June 3rd to 6th. Gilles Peruzzi, head of UCI’s Venue, Disability and Indoor Cycling Department, mentioned in an interview that the “safety bubble” arrangement in Hong Kong was excellent, and thought that other competition organizations could barely compare with it which could be used as a reference in future competitive events.

Hybribio Hong Kong’s director of medical science, Dr. Huang and other colleagues photo with Huishi Li, champion of the competition

As one of the first batch of third-party testing agencies designated by the country and Hong Kong for COVID-19 nucleic acid testing, Hybribio has been fighting hard on the front line of the fight against the pandemic in Hong Kong since August last year, protecting the lives and health of people in Hong Kong with professionalism and strength. As of May 2021, Hybribio has completed nucleic acid testing for more than 1.8 million people in Hong Kong. The testing quality has been highly recognized by the Hong Kong government and citizens. The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mrs Carrie Lam, has visited Hybribio for many times to give condolences to our inspectors the testing staff. In the recent outbreak of the pandemic in Yingkou City, Liaoning Province, Hybribio gathered nearly 100 professionals with rich anti-pandemic experience, and urgently deployed testing instruments and reagents to help Yingkou. The prevention and control of the pandemic cannot be relaxed! Hybribio will continue to stick to the front battlefield of pandemic prevention and detection, and serve the overall situation of nation’s anti-pandemic!