(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 26,026 additional COVID-19 cases, of which six are imported and the rest are locally infected.

A total of 117,056 positive cases were recorded in the past 14 days, comprising 105 imported and 116,951 locally acquired cases.

At the press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au said a platform will be launched shortly for people testing positive for COVID-19 by a rapid antigen test (RAT) to report to the Department of Health.

“We will regard these cases as confirmed cases, in view of the present situation. So, RAT positive cases will be confirmed cases.

“After the launch of the online platform, people who tested positive through RAT need to submit to the Department of Health their personal information. After receiving the report, we will distribute some information packs as well as some rapid antigen test kits to them and also to their household members.

“They will be issued with isolation orders and also their household members will be issued with quarantine orders. And we will also make arrangements for them to go to community isolation facilities if necessary.”

On the prevention front, starting March 1, inoculation service of the Sinovac vaccine will be provided to pregnant women receiving antenatal services at 19 of the Department of Health Maternal & Child Health Centres.

Meanwhile, 11 elderly health centres will continue to provide walk-in inoculation service of the Sinovac vaccine to people aged 65 or above in March.

Separately, the Government made restriction-testing declarations to cover six buildings where sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

They include Sau Fu House of Sau Mau Ping Estate in Kwun Tong, Shek Sau House of Shek Lei (I) Estate in Kwai Chung, Heng Chui and Heng Chun houses of Tin Heng Estate in Yuen Long, Man Wo and Yan Wo houses of Wo Che Estate in Sha Tin.

People in the restricted areas must undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

As there were positive sewage test results in several areas of Kwun Tong, Sha Tin, Sham Shui Po, Kwai Tsing, Eastern and Wong Tai Sin districts, the Home Affairs Department will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleansing workers and property management staff working in those areas from tomorrow.

The Government also announced that the mobile specimen collection station at Sheung Shui Slaughterhouse will be relocated to Sheung Shui Cycling Entry/Exit Hub starting tomorrow.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.