(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 4,321 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,711 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 2,610 via rapid antigen tests that were verified.

Separately, 226 imported cases were reported.

Three elderly care homes and three residential care homes for people with disabilities reported infection cases involving residents or workers.

There were also 437 cases reported by 330 schools. Five schools have been advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for specific classes temporarily.

Four more patients passed away, bringing the total number of deaths in the fifth wave of the epidemic to 9,311.

Updating the media on the number of COVID-19 patients treated at public hospitals, Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Quality & Standards) Dr Lau Ka-hin said private hospitals are giving significant aid in fighting the epidemic.

“Usually, we transfer the stable patients to our convalescent or rehabilitation hospitals in order to provide more acute care beds for either COVID-19 patients or non-COVID-19 patients.

“In the recent surge of admissions of COVID-19 patients, 13 private hospitals have now provided 364 beds for our COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 patients. Most of them are for non-COVID-19 patients. CUHK Medical Centre has provided 24 beds for the COVID-19 patients.

"This measure is important because we can transfer more patients to the private hospitals, so that we can have more beds available in the acute care hospitals for both COVID-19 patients and non-COVID-19 patients."

Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Ting Fung House of Ning Fung Court in Kwai Chung, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

Due to a number of positive cases, 60 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers five specified premises in Pok Fu Lam and Tin Shui Wai where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will reopen the mobile specimen collection stations at Wah Fu (I) Estate in Pok Fu Lam, Lei Muk Shue Estate in Tsuen Wan and Park Island in Ma Wan tomorrow.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Sham Shui Po, Tsuen Wan and Island District, 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.