The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 4,954 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,344 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 3,610 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 407 imported cases were detected.

Furthermore, six residential care homes for the elderly and three for disabled people logged 18 cases involving their residents and staff.

Meanwhile, there were also 1,542 positive cases concerning 1,329 students and 213 staff filed by 738 schools. As a result, 18 classes in 16 schools were advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for seven days.

In addition to reporting that five more patients passed away in public hospitals due to the coronavirus, the Hospital Authority registered six more critical patients, bringing the number of patients in critical condition to 22.

The centre also noted that the number of imported cases with mutant strains registered no further increase, remaining at 55 for XBB, four for BA.2.75.2, one for BA.4.6 and five for the BQ.1.1 variants.

Due to a number of positive cases, 50 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice.

The Government will reopen the ad-hoc mobile specimen collection stations at Hing Man Estate in Chai Wan and Wah Fu (I) Estate in Pok Fu Lam tomorrow. Separately, such stations at Wang Tau Hom Estate in Lok Fu, as well as Rhine Garden and Lido Garden in Sham Tseng will continue to operate tomorrow, while the service period of the one at Cheung Wang Estate in Tsing Yi will be extended to October 19.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Kwun Tong, Yuen Long and Tsuen Wan districts, 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.

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