The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 4,420 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,377 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 3,043 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 368 imported cases were detected.

Furthermore, two residential care homes for the elderly and one for disabled people logged six virus cases involving their residents and staff.

There were also 682 positive cases concerning 555 students and 127 staff filed by 471 schools.

In addition to reporting that nine more patients passed away in public hospitals due to the coronavirus, the Hospital Authority registered three more critical patients, bringing the number of patients in critical condition to 31.

The centre also noted that the Department of Health’s Public Health Laboratory Services Branch has identified five more cases of sub-lineage XBB from the imported cases. So far, Hong Kong has recorded six XBB cases and one BA.2.75.2 case among the imported infections.

Due to a number of positive cases, 71 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers another four places in Pok Fu Lam and Quarry Bay where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will set up additional ad-hoc mobile specimen collection stations at Yue Kwong Chuen in Aberdeen, Wah Fu (I) Estate in Pok Fu Lam and Ocean Pointe in Sham Tseng tomorrow. The specimen collection station at Chi Fu Fa Yuen in Southern District will extend its service until Friday.

Since there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Yuen Long, Kwai Tsing 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.