The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 10,030 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 2,918 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 7,112 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 164 imported cases were found and 16 more patients passed away.

Eleven residential care homes for the elderly or the disabled logged virus cases.

The centre also received notifications of 1,361 cases from 799 schools, involving 1,140 students and 221 staff.

Twenty-two schools that have registered infection cases were advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for specific classes temporarily.

The centre also advised Malvern College Hong Kong in Pak Shek Kok, Tai Po to suspend classes for its primary pupils given that 21 out of the 26 classes have logged virus infections in the past seven days. Four of the classes at least reported three cases in each class.

Due to a number of positive cases, 51 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers 24 specified sites in Tai Po, Ngau Tau Kok, Lai Chi Kok and North Point where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

Members of the public may conduct free testing at community testing centres or mobile specimen collection stations.

Since there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas in Tuen Mun, Southern, Central & Western and Kwai Tsing districts, 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.