The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 14,520 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 2,665 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 11,855 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 863 imported cases were detected.

Twenty-five residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and 13 for disabled people logged 73 cases involving their residents as well as three infections among staff.

Meanwhile, there were 3,528 positive cases concerning 2,989 students and 539 staff filed by 951 schools.

In addition to reporting that 39 patients passed away in public hospitals due to the coronavirus, the Hospital Authority registered 18 more critical patients, bringing the number of patients in critical condition to 127.

The authority is also concerned that the number of RCHE residents admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19 is continuously rising and has reached 653 in the past week, as compared with the figures in the preceding two weeks.

It will closely monitor the situation and keep close communication with relevant government departments and RCHEs so as to enhance medical support to the care homes through outreach teams.

Due to a number of positive cases, 16 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers another four places in Kowloon City, Sha Tin, Cheung Sha Wan and Ap Lei Chau where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The ad-hoc mobile specimen collection station at Chi Fu Fa Yuen in Pok Fu Lam will be relocated to the podium outside Fu Chun Yuen tomorrow and its service period will be extended to December 21.

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