The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 7,188 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,489 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 5,699 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 605 imported cases were detected.

Five residential care homes (RCHs) for the elderly and four for disabled people logged nine cases involving their residents.

Meanwhile, there were 2,255 positive cases concerning 1,882 students and 373 staff filed by 886 schools. As a result, 13 classes from eight schools were advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for seven days.

In addition to reporting that 26 patients passed away in public hospitals due to the coronavirus, the Hospital Authority registered nine more critical patients, bringing the number in critical condition to 61.

Due to a number of positive cases, 57 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers another two places in Sha Tin where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will reopen the ad-hoc mobile specimen collection station at Park Island in Ma Wan tomorrow. The mobile station at Rhine Garden in Sham Tseng will also continue to operate tomorrow.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Kwai Tsing, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun, 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.