Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited four community testing centres today to learn more about their operation.

Accompanied by Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan, Mrs Lam visited centres in Quarry Bay, Yau Tong, Tseung Kwan O and Tuen Mun.

She was briefed by the different contractors at the centres on the workflow of the provision of virus testing services, the infection control and social distancing measures implemented inside and outside the centres, as well as other operational details.

Mrs Lam expressed gratitude to the contractors for their contributions in the fight against the virus and spoke with members of the public at the testing centres to learn about their views on the arrangements.

Currently, there are nine community testing centres across the city and five more will commence operation gradually starting December 9.

Since operations started in mid-November, specimens from over 110,000 people have been collected at community testing centres and about 30 confirmed cases have been identified.

Apart from the centres, the Government has also set up mobile specimen collection stations in various districts.

Starting on December 7, people can obtain specimen collection packs from vending machines at 10 MTR stations. Specimens are required to be returned to the designated specimen collection points.

Additionally, various government departments are making arrangements for targeted groups to undergo free testing, including frontline staff members of departments, market stall operators and foreign domestic helpers.

The Government said the rapid surge of confirmed cases has posed great pressure on quarantine and treatment facilities.

It has started to rent entire hotels for quarantine purposes and will commence, by phases, the operation of another 1,700 units in phase 3 of the quarantine centre at Penny's Bay.

The Hospital Authority will also deploy more beds at the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo.

Mrs Lam said: "The local epidemic situation is worsening rapidly. The Government earlier announced a series of stringent measures to further enhance social distancing and reduce the flow of people in the community.

"Nevertheless, the co-operation of members of the public is pivotal to suppress the latest wave of epidemic. I strongly urge members of the public who are required or should undergo virus tests to complete the tests as soon as possible.

"For themselves and others, all citizens should stay at home as much as possible, suspend social activities, and fight the disease together."