The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 7,677 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 2,934 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 4,743 via verified rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 207 imported cases were found and 14 more patients passed away.

Nine residential care homes for the elderly and six for disabled people logged coronavirus infection cases. There were also 101 cases reported by 72 schools.

The centre's Head of the Communicable Disease Branch Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said that the proportion of BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in all local cases has reached 40.8% and noted that a surge past 10,000 daily cases is not impossible.

Should the upward trend continue, a further tightening of social distancing measures cannot be ruled out, she added.

In light of the rising number of COVID-19 cases, the Social Welfare Department announced that the holding centre at Harbour Road Sports Centre will commence operation on September 1. With 130 beds, the holding centre will receive elderly patients who are asymptomatic or with mild symptoms.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas in Southern District, Wong Tai Sin and Tuen Mun, the Housing Department and the respective district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there.

Due to a number of positive cases, 18 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers five specified locations in Wong Tai Sin and Tin Shui Wai where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

If the Strong Wind Signal No. 3 is cancelled before noon tomorrow, the mobile specimen collection stations at Shek Pai Wan Estate in Southern District, Ma Hang Estate in Stanley, Wah Fu (I) Estate in Pok Fu Lam, Wang Tau Hom Estate in Lok Fu, Rhine Garden in Sham Tseng, Sea Crest Villa in Sham Tseng and On Yam Estate in Kwai Chung will resume operation within a few hours after its cancellation.

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