The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 489 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 53 are imported while the rest are locally infected.

It also noted that from today, for cases reported via the declaration system for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using rapid antigen test (RAT), only those which have been verified with positive nucleic acid test results will be announced as positive COVID-19 cases.

This decision was made in view of subsequent negative nucleic acid test results obtained from some positive RAT cases on the declaration system, the centre explained.

Among the 489 new cases, 231 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests while 258 RATs were verified.

A total of 1,203,303 people have contracted the virus since the onset of the fifth wave of the epidemic, involving 9,176 deaths.

This afternoon, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Sik Man House of Ho Man Tin Estate in Kowloon City. People in the restricted area are required to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

Due to a number of positive cases, 49 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice.

Mobile specimen collection stations at Bellagio in Sham Tseng and Hung Fuk Estate in Hung Shui Kiu will be reopened tomorrow, while the mobile station at the open area next to Discovery Bay Fire Station will extend service to June 9.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Yuen Long, Sai Kung and Sha Tin districts, the Housing Department and respective district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there.

Separately, Qatar Airways flight QR818 from Doha, Qatar on June 4 had one passenger on board who failed to comply with the requirements under the Prevention & Control of Disease (Regulation of Cross-boundary Conveyances & Travellers) Regulation, and three passengers who tested positive upon arrival. As the flight triggered the relevant criterion again within 10 days, the Department of Health has prohibited the landing of the airline's passenger flights in Hong Kong from Doha from June 7 to 11.

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