(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 29,272 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 14,454 were detected by nucleic acid tests and 14,818 were identified via rapid antigen tests. Among the cases which tested positive by nucleic acid tests, 11 are imported and the rest are locally acquired.

Having finished processing the reports of cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests from February 26 to March 5 via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test, the number of cases confirmed during the period was 184,390, the centre said.

Since the fifth wave of the epidemic, 4,634 patients passed away, it added.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Controller Dr Edwin Tsui said: “During the fifth wave, especially now, we have about 30,000 (new) cases a day. Our current (strategy) is still (enhancing) our stringent social distancing measures. Because there are some gatherings and also mask-off activities (going on), we still (require) such stringent measures - especially for outdoor (venues) like beaches.”

Meanwhile, COVID-19 oral drugs have been distributed to the Hospital Authority and its Chief Manager (Quality & Standards) Dr Lau Ka-hin said the drugs have been prescribed to over 1,000 patients based on their clinical symptoms.

Separately, the Government made restriction-testing declarations to cover designated buildings where sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The buildings include Wai Sam House of Lung Hang Estate in Sha Tin, Block 6 of Po Tin Estate and Tip Yee House of Butterfly Estate in Tuen Mun, Hang Yee House of Cheung Hang Estate in Tsing Yi, Kwai Yuen House of Chuk Yuen (South) Estate in Wong Tai Sin, and Tin Wan House of Shun Tin Estate in Kwun Tong.

People in the restricted areas must undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

As there were positive sewage test results in several buildings in Eastern, Yuen Long, Tuen Mun and Wong Tai Sin districts, the district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working in those areas from tomorrow.

While the mobile specimen collection station at Po On Road Playground in Sham Shui Po reopened today, another station at Lai Chi Kok Park Stage I’s hard-surfaced soccer pitch will start operations tomorrow, the Government added.

Furthermore, the Department of Health has prohibited the landing of passenger flights in the city operated by Singapore Airlines from Singapore, and by Emirates from Dubai and Bangkok, from March 17 to 30.

Singapore Airlines passenger flight SQ894 had four passengers on board who tested positive upon arrival over a seven-day period from March 9 to 15, while Emirates flight EK384 from Dubai and Bangkok had five passengers who tested positive upon arrival, the department explained.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government’s dedicated webpage.