The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 11,278 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 3,197 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 8,081 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 703 imported cases were detected.

Eighteen residential care homes for the elderly and nine for disabled people logged 47 cases involving their residents as well as five infections among staff.

Meanwhile, there were 2,100 positive cases concerning 1,759 students and 341 staff filed by 920 schools. A total of 18 classes from 18 schools were advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for seven days.

In addition to reporting that 20 patients passed away in public hospitals due to the coronavirus, the Hospital Authority registered 17 more critical patients, bringing the number of patients in critical condition to 77.

Due to a number of positive cases, 41 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers another three places in Kwai Chung and Tai Po where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

A new regular community testing centre has been set up at the basketball court next to Wang Lai House of Wang Tau Hom Estate in Lok Fu for citizens in Lok Fu and Kowloon Tong, the Government announced.

The ad-hoc mobile specimen collection station at Ocean Pointe in Sham Tseng will reopen tomorrow, while the one at On Yam Estate in Kwai Chung will open until Friday, it added.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Wong Tai Sin and Central & Western 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.