31k virus cases identified
(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)
The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 31,402 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 24,390 were tested positive by nucleic acid tests and 7,012 were reported via the declaration system for people who tested positive using rapid antigen tests (RATs).
Among those who tested positive by nucleic acid tests, 10 are imported and the rest are locally infected.
At the daily press briefing this afternoon, the centre's Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au explained the trend of the epidemic according to the case figures in the past two weeks.
"According to the figures on positive RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) cases, we have seen the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak around March 2 to 4, reaching over 50,000 cases per day.
"After that, there was a decrease in the number of positive RT-PCR cases to around 30,000 from March 5 to 6, and then it further decreased to a level of about 25,000 to 30,000 cases per day in the past four days.
"So judging from the RT-PCR-positive cases, we are seeing a gradual decreasing trend and probably we have already reached the peak.
"On the other hand, we have additional figures on RAT positive cases in the past few days. And there were around 10,000 or more cases per day. There is no increasing trend and the trend is quite stabilised."
Noting that there is a need to continue to observe the epidemic situation, Dr Au advised citizens to stay vigilant given that the number of cases still remains at quite a high level.
Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority announced that Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Fung Yiu King Hospital will be converted to a designated hospital starting tomorrow, with all 260 beds to be used for receiving COVID-19 patients.
Such a measure can help concentrate manpower and resources to look after patients under the severe epidemic situation, the authority added.
Separately, the Government made restriction-testing declarations to cover designated buildings where sewage samples tested positive for the virus.
The buildings include Oi Hei House of Yau Oi Estate in Tuen Mun, Hang Chui House of Cheung Hang Estate in Tsing Yi, Tak Man House of Oi Man Estate in Ho Man Tin, Tin Lok and Tin Fai houses of Shun Tin Estate in Kwun Tong, Fu Yan House of Fu Shan Estate in Wong Tai Sin and Fortune Garden in Ngau Chi Wan.
People in the restricted areas must undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.
As there were positive sewage test results in several housing estates in Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun, Eastern, Sai Kung, Southern and Yuen Long districts, the district offices will distribute COVID-19 RAT kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working in those areas from tomorrow.
Starting tomorrow, the Government will set up additional mobile specimen collection stations at the open plaza of Kai Tak Station Square, Cheung Sha Wan Playground, Tsuen King Circuit Sports Centre, Luen Wo Hui Playground in Fanling, Tin Pak Road Park in Tin Shui Wai and Butterfly Bay Community Centre in Tuen Mun.
For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.