The Government today announced that 26 specified premises are covered in the compulsory testing notice and that foreign domestic helpers are required to undergo a COVID-19 test.

It also continued to empower registered medical practitioners to require anyone suspected to have contracted COVID-19 to undergo a test.

The Food & Health Bureau said as the N501Y mutant strain has high transmissibility, those who had been to the places visited by the local cases with unknown sources of infection involving the N501Y mutant strain during the specified period are required to undergo three tests. Therefore, some specified premises are under second or third testing.

Additionally, 11 schools are covered in the compulsory testing notice due to outbreaks of upper respiratory tract infection.

Under the April 29 compulsory testing notice, the testing deadline for those subject to compulsory testing will be extended to May 2.

The Government today will reopen or set up mobile specimen collection stations outside Central Pier No.5 as well as at Gloucester Road Garden in Wan Chai, Ocean Centre Carpark in Tsim Sha Tsui and Cheung Chau Sports Centre for those subject to the third testing.

Mobile specimen collection stations will be set up at Chater Road Pedestrian Precinct in Central, the Hing Fat Street entrance of Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, as well as the entrance of Lai Chi Kok Park and Tsuen Wan Park today and tomorrow for foreign domestic helpers.

The Government today will also set up mobile specimen collection stations at Kennedy Town Playground, Tamar Park, Quarry Bay Community Hall carpark, Siu Sai Wan Community Hall, Kwun Tong Recreation Ground, 557 Shanghai Street in Mong Kok, Lai Kok Community Hall, Kwai Chung Sports Ground, the Hong Kong Velodrome Park amphitheatre in Tseung Kwan O and Mau Tai Road Garden in Po Lam.

The service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Citygate and Fu Tung Estate in Tung Chung, Maple Street Playground in Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin Square and Plaza of Sha Tin Town Hall will be extended.