The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 4,890 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,734 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 3,156 via verified rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 272 imported cases were reported. Ten more patients passed away in public hospitals.

The centre added that there were also 92 cases reported by schools, involving 71 pupils and 21 staff.

Additionally, there were seven residential care homes for the elderly and four for disabled people that logged infection cases.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority reported that a member of staff in a palliative care and hospice ward of the Department of Clinical Oncology in Tuen Mun Hospital tested positive for COVID-19 on August 11.

After the hospital commenced contact tracing, nine more patients and four staff also tested positive. All nine infected patients are being treated under isolation.

The hospital is investigating the linkage of the cases concerned.

This afternoon, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Block 1 of Fok On Garden in Ma On Shan, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

Due to a number of positive cases, 64 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers one specified location in Sha Tin where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection stations at Chuk Yuen North Estate in Wong Tai Sin and Lei Muk Shue Estate in Tsuen Wan tomorrow.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas in Yuen Long, Tsuen Wan, Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin and Central & Western districts, the Housing Department and respective district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there.

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