The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 290 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 132 were detected by nucleic acid tests and 158 were identified via rapid antigen tests.

Among the new cases, 21 are imported while the rest are locally infected.

A total of 1,192,452 people have contracted the virus since the onset of the fifth wave of the epidemic, involving 9,112 deaths.

Considering the latest stabilised epidemic situation, the Hospital Authority announced that it will resume the special visiting arrangement in non-acute wards and units of 26 hospitals from May 6.

The authority noted that one to two visits by one registered visitor will be arranged for each patient every week, with a one-hour visiting session. Changing of visitors is not allowed within the visit.

Hospital staff will contact relatives for appointments. Relatives are not required to call the hospital for booking.

Visitors must have completed two doses of a COVID‐19 vaccine for at least 14 days and provide either a negative nucleic acid test result obtained within 48 hours or a negative rapid antigen test result obtained within 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Ming Toa House, Ming Tak Estate in Tseung Kwan O, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

Due to a number of positive cases, 40 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several housing estates in Southern, Wong Tai Sin and North districts, the Housing Department and 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.