The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 5,827 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,466 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 4,361 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 163 imported cases were found and 17 more patients passed away.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au said that noting from the decreasing seven-day moving average of virus infections, the local epidemic situation is showing an obvious downward trend.

Citizens who are not vaccinated, especially the very young and the elderly, should receive the jab in time with a view to restoring normalcy, he stressed.

Dr Au added that among the new local infections, five residential care homes for the elderly and another two for disabled people logged seven virus cases. 

There were also 746 positive cases, involving 636 students and 110 staff, filed by 520 schools.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority reported a suspected cluster of COVID-19 cases at Caritas Medical Centre.

An 87-year-old woman staying in its orthopaedics and traumatology ward tested positive for COVID-19 on September 19 after developing a fever and cough. A contact tracing investigation revealed that six more female patients and six of the hospital's staff tested positive. An investigation is underway to identify the linkage among the cases concerned.

Due to a number of positive cases, 81 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers another two specified premises in Chai Wan where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection stations at Chi Fu Fa Yuen in Pok Fu Lam and Park Island in Ma Wan tomorrow, while the station at Ka Lung Court in Tin Wan will extend its services to Saturday.

Since there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas in Sham Shui Po, Islands 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.