The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 9,531 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,930 were identified through nucleic acid tests and 7,601 via rapid antigen tests.

Separately, 606 imported cases were detected.

Furthermore, 12 residential care homes for the elderly and seven for disabled people logged 37 cases involving their residents and staff.

Meanwhile, there were 1,284 positive cases concerning 1,066 students and 218 staff filed by 719 schools. As a result, 19 classes from 19 schools were advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for seven days.

In addition to reporting that 15 patients passed away in public hospitals due to the coronavirus, the Hospital Authority registered 13 more critical patients, bringing the number in critical condition to 54.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre's Principal Medical & Health Officer Dr Albert Au said the number of daily COVID-19 confirmed cases has been rising steadily since mid-November. In the past seven days, the average daily confirmed cases was about 8,582, an 8.4% increase compared to the previous week.

He said the number of COVID-19 patients who died with COVID-19 infection also surged 47.4% to 115 in the past seven days.

Under Secretary for Health Dr Libby Lee said social distancing measures will be maintained for the meantime and urged citizens, particularly the elderly and the very young, to receive both a COVID-19 vaccine and a seasonal influenza vaccine.

Separately, due to a number of positive cases, 40 specified places are included in a compulsory testing notice. It also covers another five places in Aberdeen, Tseung Kwan O and Tin Shui Wai where some sewage samples tested positive for the virus.

The Government will re-open ad-hoc mobile specimen collection station at Shek Pai Wan Estate in Southern District.

As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several areas of Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Tai Po, 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.