People who have visited 14 specified dance premises since November 1 should undergo COVID-19 testing by November 24 as mandated by the Government to facilitate its follow-up actions.

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan made the remarks following the gazettal of a compulsory testing notice earlier today.

She said: "Virus testing is a very important strategy, especially when we are now facing a very severe situation in Hong Kong. The number of unlinked cases has been increasing in the past few days and we are now testing more people.

"The compulsory testing order is for the 14 places whereby the dancing gatherings have taken place. So we urge people who have been there since November 1 to come out to test before next Tuesday, so that we can identify more people if they require hospitalisation or quarantine."

Prof Chan added that the Government plans to set up more testing centres in addition to the existing ones.

"We will be increasing the number of testing centres in the coming week. Obviously it will be in different districts in Hong Kong.”