The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 4,829 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,048 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 3,781 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 416 imported cases were detected.

Furthermore, one residential care home for the elderly and five for disabled people logged six cases involving their residents.

Meanwhile, there were 705 positive cases concerning 587 students and 118 staff filed by 441 schools. One class was advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for seven days.

In addition to reporting that 10 patients passed away in public hospitals due to the coronavirus, the Hospital Authority registered eight more critical patients, bringing the number of patients in critical condition to 39.

Due to a number of positive cases, 28 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers three places in Cheung Sha Wan and Tai Po where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

People subject to compulsory testing must undergo professional swab sampling at any of the ad-hoc mobile specimen collection stations, community testing centres, community testing stations or recognised local medical testing institutions. 

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Tsuen Wan and Eastern 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.