The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 0.00am today (September 3), a total of 2 739 patients who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently hospitalised for treatment, including 396 new patients. Among the patients staying in isolation facilities, 542 patients are in isolation wards, 161 patients are in second-tier isolation wards, 631 patients are in the North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre and 227 patients are in the Treatment Centre for COVID-19 (AWE), of which 274 in total are new patients. There are 16 newly reported critical patients and 14 newly reported serious patients. There are a total of 61 patients in critical condition and 51 are in serious condition, of which 16 critical patients are receiving intensive care. Moreover, there are 318 patients who have recovered, including 286 patients who have been discharged. In addition, six patients who passed away in public hospitals were reported.

     In the fifth wave of the epidemic, there are 63 724 patients who have recovered so far, including 63 390 patients who have been discharged. And since early 2020, there are 76 104 patients who have recovered, including 75 770 patients who have been discharged.

     The Hospital Authority will maintain close contact with the Centre for Health Protection to monitor the latest developments and to inform the public and healthcare workers on the latest information in a timely manner.

     â€‹The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 3) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, September 3, the CHP was investigating 10 222 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 3 051 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (1 306 confirmed cases, 1 465 asymptomatic cases and 280 cases with pending status) and 7 171 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) in the past 24 hours.

    Separately, 204 additional imported cases were reported, including 181 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (9 confirmed cases, 110 asymptomatic cases and 62 cases with pending status) and 23 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 896 964 and 674 752 cases that have tested positive by nucleic acid tests and RATs respectively for the SARS-CoV-2 virus so far.

     The CHP is continuing with epidemiological investigations of the cases. Please refer to the "COVID-19 Thematic Website" (www.coronavirus.gov.hk) for more information.

     â€‹Among the specimens received by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch during August 25 to 31 for verification testing of local cases, about 6.4 per cent and 56.3 per cent of them (seven-day moving average) are related to the sub-lineages BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 (including suspected cases) of the Omicron mutant strain respectively.

     In addition, as of 0.00am, September 3, a total of 9 503 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 421 and 79 deaths reported from the Hospital Authority and public mortuaries respectively as well as three deaths reported from the Chinese University of Hong Kong Medical Centre. Hong Kong has so far recorded a total of 9 716 death cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

     Furthermore, among the earlier cases by nucleic acid tests reported, there were cases (including pending cases) changed to confirmed, asymptomatic or re-positive cases. As at yesterday (September 2), the total number of confirmed cases was 388 831, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 265 851, 31 and 239 019 respectively.

     The spokesman for the CHP stressed that the local situation of COVID-19 infection is severe with the number of cases tested positive growing at an increased pace. The CHP strongly appeals to the community to strictly comply with social distancing measures and refrain from participating in unnecessary or crowded activities or mass gatherings. This would lower the risk of infection and prevent the virus from spreading in the community.

     â€‹â€‹â€‹The spokesman reminded the public that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective in preventing severe cases and deaths from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. They can provide effective protection to those vaccinated in preventing serious complications and even death after infection. People who have yet to receive vaccination, especially senior citizens, chronic patients, children, and other immunocompromised persons who face a higher chance of death after COVID-19 infection, should get vaccinated as early as possible for self-protection and to reduce the risk of falling seriously ill and death should they get infected.

     The Financial Secretary's Office (FSO) today (September 3) said that a staff member of the office had tested positive for COVID-19 through a rapid antigen test.
 
     The staff member is the Political Assistant to the Financial Secretary. He wore masks and followed relevant disease prevention measures at work in office. He has no recent travel history. He last went to work on August 31.
 
     The Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, has been taking COVID-19 rapid tests every day as well as polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid tests every day in the past week.  The results are all negative.

     An FSO spokesman said that thorough cleaning and disinfection operations at the office concerned would be conducted.  Relevant staff members would be arranged to undergo COVID-19 tests in accordance with the advice from the Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health.

     The Government today (September 3) exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to make a "restriction-testing declaration" effective from 6pm, under which people (hereafter referred to as "persons subject to compulsory testing") within the specified "restricted area" in Ma On Shan (i.e. Kam Lan House, Kam Fung Court, Ma On Shan, excluding the non-domestic units on ground floor, see Annex) are required to stay in their premises and undergo compulsory testing. Persons subject to compulsory testing are required to stay in their premises until all such persons identified in the "restricted area" have undergone testing and the test results are mostly ascertained. The Government aims at finishing this exercise at about 10.30am tomorrow (September 4). The operation may be extended depending on test results.

     A Government spokesman said, "Under Cap. 599J, the Government can, according to the needs of infection control, make a 'restriction-testing declaration'. Having reviewed a basket of factors, including the viral load in sewage, the information of relevant positive cases, and other circumstantial factors, and conducted a risk assessment, the Government decided to make a 'restriction-testing declaration' for the relevant area."

     The Government will set up temporary specimen collection stations at the "restricted area" and request persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo testing before 11pm today. Arrangements will be made for persons subject to compulsory testing to undergo a nucleic acid test at specimen collection stations where dedicated staff will collect samples through combined nasal and throat swabs. Persons subject to compulsory testing must stay at their place of residence until all test results are ascertained to avoid cross-infection risk. The Government will make arrangement to facilitate specimen collection for people with impaired mobility. All persons in the "restricted area" who have tested positive in the past 14 days, including positive cases identified either by nucleic acid tests recorded by the Department of Health (DH) or by rapid antigen tests that have been self-declared to the DH, will not be required to undergo testing in this compulsory testing exercise.

     The Government spokesman said, "We understand that this exercise will cause inconvenience to the public. The Government has made arrangements to carry out testing for all persons present in the 'restricted area' as soon as possible. The aim is to strive to complete testing of all identified persons subject to compulsory testing and confirm the results, and finish the exercise at around 10.30am tomorrow. The Government will make a public announcement when the declaration expires officially. In the cases in which employees are unable to go to work because of the declaration, the Government hopes their employers can exercise discretion and not deduct the salaries or benefits of the employees."

     If staying in the "restricted area" will cause unreasonable hardship to individuals who are not residents in the area when the declaration takes effect, government officers may exercise discretion and allow that person to leave the area after considering the individual circumstances. That person must have followed the instructions to undergo testing and leave his/her personal information for contact purposes.

     According to the compulsory testing notice to be issued today, any persons other than those specified above who had been present at the above building for more than two hours from August 28 to September 3, 2022, even if they were not present in the "restricted area" at the time when the declaration took effect, must undergo compulsory testing on or before September 5, 2022. As a mutant strain is involved, for prudence's sake, vaccinated persons and persons who have recently been tested are also required to undergo testing.

     The Social Welfare Department has set up a hotline (Tel: 6279 3951) which starts operation at 6pm today for residents restricted by the declaration to make enquiries and seek assistance. The Social Welfare Department will also provide assistance to the affected persons.

     The Government appeals to persons subject to compulsory testing for their full co-operation by registering and undergoing testing, and waiting for the results patiently at home. The Government will strictly follow up on whether the persons concerned have complied with the compulsory testing notices and "restriction-testing declaration". Any person who fails to comply with the compulsory testing notices commits an offence and may be fined a fixed penalty of $10,000. The person would also be issued with a compulsory testing order requiring him or her to undergo testing within a specified time frame. Failure to comply with the compulsory testing order or the "restriction-testing declaration" is an offence and the offender would be liable to a fine at level 5 ($50,000) and imprisonment for six months. 

     In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Kwai Tsing, Kowloon City and Tsuen Wan Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (September 3) that the Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO), the Kowloon City District Office (KCDO) and the Tsuen Wan District Office (TWDO) have distributed a total of about 162 000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in the Districts.
      
     The K&TDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Lai Yan Court and Ning Fung Court for voluntary testing through the property management companies.

     The KCDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Canbury Court, Ultima, Greenfield Terrace, Carmel On The Hill, Wing On Court, Chun Man Court, Dragon View, Parc Regal and residential premises around Broadcast Drive and Marconi Road for voluntary testing through the property management companies, the owners' corporations and local organisation.
         
     In addition, the TWDO distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Park Island, Royal Dragon Villa, Deauville and Riviera Apartment for voluntary testing through the property management companies. The TWDO also distributed rapid test kits to households living in 297 Castle Peak Road – Ting Kau, Ting Kau Villa, Ting Kau Village, Sea Cliff Lodge, Pink Villa, Anton Villa, Aztec Lodge, Flying Dragon Terrace and Golden Villa for voluntary testing through the Village Head.
      
     The HAD made the above arrangements in the hope of identifying infected persons early.

     Members of the public may refer to the demonstration video produced by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) under the Department of Health (DH) via www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFAUzTtmKk to learn how to use the rapid antigen test (RAT) kit.
      
     Persons testing positive through an RAT should take a photo of the test result and declare the result within 24 hours via the Declaration System for Individuals Tested Positive for COVID-19 Using Rapid Antigen Test (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If members of the public encounter difficulties in using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The CHP under the DH will contact the relevant person later to complete the report procedure. There is no need to declare negative test results.
      
     The Government appeals for the co-operation of members of the public to safeguard the health of themselves and their families by undergoing testing on a voluntary basis and fighting the virus together. The Government urges all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with infection risks (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or had contact with cases that tested positive), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons to reduce the transmission risks of COVID-19.