The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 21,650 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 8,628 were detected by nucleic acid tests and 13,022 were identified via rapid antigen tests.

Among the cases which tested positive by nucleic acid tests, nine are imported and the rest are locally acquired.

There are 289 newly reported death cases, the centre added.

Since the fifth wave of the epidemic, a total of 4,923 patients passed away.

Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority announced that COVID-19 patients with relatively mild symptoms in the community can make appointments for diagnosis and treatment at 23 designated clinics via the HA Go mobile app starting from 7am tomorrow.

They may also continue to use the existing telephone booking service, including the Care Booking Line designated for high-risk patients, to make reservations.

Separately, the Government made restriction-testing declarations to cover several buildings where sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

Such buildings include Sheung Sam House of Lung Hang Estate in Sha Tin; Wu Fai House of Wu King Estate, Block 5 of Po Tin Estate, and Tip Chui House of Butterfly Estate in Tuen Mun; Fu Hoi and Fu Yee houses of Fu Cheong Estate in Sham Shui Po; Pak Fung, Yuk Lun and Fei Fung houses of Choi Wan (I) Estate in Wong Tai Sin as well as Lei Yee House of Ap Lei Chau Estate in Aberdeen.

People in the restricted areas must undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

Additional mobile specimen collection stations will also be set up at Aldrich Bay Playground, Tai Wan Shan Park and Wu Kai Sha Station Public Transport Interchange starting tomorrow.

As there were positive sewage test results in several housing estates in Sha Tin, Wan Chai, Yuen Long and North districts, the district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working in those areas from tomorrow.

The Government will also provide 1.5 million sets of rapid test kits and the same amount of KN95 masks to frontline cleaning workers and property management staff working in residential buildings in support and recognition of their anti-epidemic work, which will benefit more than 200,000 personnel.

To speed up the handling of cases involving patients who passed away at accident and emergency departments of public hospitals and were transferred to the body storage facility, Police will assist the Department of Health in contacting the next of kin for relevant body identification matters.

The identification procedures arranged by Police at the storage facility will start on March 21.

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