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

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 4,696 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile, the Hospital Authority announced that it is relaxing the eligibility of COVID-19 antiviral prescriptions.

At a press briefing this afternoon, Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Clinical Effectiveness & Technology Management) Dr Gladys Kwan talked about the new arrangements for the COVID-19 oral antiviral medications.

Dr Kwan said: “For those who are under 60 years of age, and who are at high risk of medical illness, and for those who are suffering from chronic illnesses, if they have symptoms of COVID-19 within five days and seek medical attention, and if they don't have any contraindications to the antiviral drugs, all of these patients will be included and can be prescribed with antivirals.

“We have designated clinics so patients can be present physically to seek medical attention so that we can prescribe them with the antiviral drugs.

“The other way is to book our telemedicine service and through this we will prescribe the medications and then send the medicine to their home right away.”

She added that patients can also seek medical attention from private practitioners or even at private hospitals, and they can be prescribed with the antiviral drugs if appropriate.

Regarding the newly acquired local cases, 1,751 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 2,945 via rapid antigen tests that were verified.

Separately, 188 imported cases were reported.

Two elderly care homes and two residential care homes for people with disabilities recorded positive cases involving residents and staff.

The centre added that five more patients passed away, bringing the total number of deaths in the fifth wave of the epidemic to 9,285.

There were also 351 virus cases reported by 290 schools. Three schools were subsequently advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for specific classes for a week.

Due to a number of positive cases, 60 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers five specified premises in Fanling, Diamond Hill, Tseung Kwan O and Tai Po where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will set up a mobile specimen collection station at Tin Wang Court in Wong Tai Sin tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Tin Lai Court in Tin Shui Wai, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Kwun Tong, Southern, Eastern districts, the Housing Department and 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.