â€‹In light of positive test results for the COVID-19 virus from sewage samples collected in Kwai Tsing, Wong Tai Sin and Tsuen Wan Districts, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) said today (September 20) that the Kwai Tsing District Office (K&TDO), the Wong Tai Sin District Office (WTSDO) and the Tsuen Wan District Office (TWDO) have distributed a total of about 214 000 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 Highland Park, Cho Yiu Chuen, Yuet Lai Court, Yin Lai Court, Ha Kwai Chung Village, Horizon Place, Hibiscus Park and Kwai Chung Centre for voluntary testing through the property management companies and the owners' corporations.
                                                                                    
     The WTSDO also distributed rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Ngau Chi Wan Village, 14-16 Kam Chi Path (even numbers), 21-23 Kam Chi Path (odd numbers), 22-24 Kam Chi Path (even numbers), 29-31 Kam Chi Path (odd numbers), Lung Chi Path, Tin Wang Court, Tin Ma Court, Tsui Chuk Garden and Chuk Yuen United Village for voluntary testing through the property management companies, the Ngau Chi Wan Village Office and the Village Representative. The WTSDO also arranged to distribute rapid test kits to households living in Choi Hung Villa and Man Tak House.
      
     In addition, the TWDO commenced distributing rapid test kits to households, cleansing workers and property management staff living and working in Villa Alfavista, Seascape Villa, Royal Sea Crest, Anglers' Bay, Hong Kong Garden Yale Villa, Lung Tang Court, Fou Wah Centre, Tsuen Fung Centre, Waldorf Centre, Fairview Garden, Luk Yeung Sun Chuen, the Cliveden and the Cairnhill for voluntary testing through the property management companies. The TWDO also commenced distributing rapid test kits to households living in Yuen Tun Village, Pai Min Kok Village, Tsing Lung Tau New Village and Kwong Pan Tin Tsuen for voluntary testing through the village heads, a non-governmental organisation and a local organisation.

     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.
      

     The Government announced today (September 5) that in order to fight the coronavirus epidemic, the Environmental Protection Department and the Drainage Services Department have been collecting sewage samples for virus testing in all districts, and had detected positive results in some areas, indicating that there may be hidden cases in the premises within these areas.
      
Rapid test
 
     As regards positive sewage testing results with relatively high viral loads in the following areas, the respective District Offices will commence distributing about 260 000 sets of the COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits to residents, cleaning workers and property management staff working in the following areas for them to take the test on their own, in order to help identify infected persons:
                                  

• Sha Tin District – Sha Tin Tau Village, Sha Tin Tau New Village, Tin Sam Village, Hin Tin Village, Sheung Keng Hau, Ha Keng Hau, La Costa, Oceanaire, Ocean View, Saddle Ridge Garden, Kam Lung Court, Villa Athena, Ravana Garden, Pictorial Garden Phase 1 – 3 and Garden Vista
• Southern District – Chi Fu Fa Yuen, Chi Fu Fa Yuen – Yar Chee Villas and Larvotto
• Tuen Mun District – Shan King Estate, Yeung Siu Hang Tsuen, Century Gateway, Villa Tiara, Leung Tin Village, San Hui Village and T Plus
• Yau Tsim Mong District – Residential premises around Nullah Road and Fa Yuen Street (See Annex)

 
     Members of the public may refer to (www.coronavirus.gov.hk/rat/eng/rat.html) for enquiries relating to the use of the RAT kits.
 
     When using an RAT kit, please pay attention to and follow the instructions from the manufacturer to perform the test and read the result properly. It is advisable to record the displayed result by taking a photo immediately after reading. Users should wash their hands before and after performing the tests, and avoid placing non-essential items within the specimen collection area. After completing the test, wrap and seal all components of the test kit carefully and dispose properly. If the household environment is contaminated during the specimen collecting process, disinfection should be conducted with 1 in 49 diluted bleach solution or 70 per cent alcohol.
 
     People who obtained a positive result through an RAT for the first time can report via the online platform "Declaration System for individuals tested positive for COVID-19 using Rapid Antigen Test" (www.chp.gov.hk/ratp). If individuals encounter difficulties using the online platform, they can call the automated system at 183 6119 to register their identification document and telephone number. The Centre for Health Protection of the Department of Health will contact the relevant person later to finish the report procedure.

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (August 28) announced the latest epidemic situation of COVID-19. As of 0.00am, August 28, the CHP was investigating 9 495 additional locally acquired cases that tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, comprising 2 930 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (1 293 confirmed cases, 1 297 asymptomatic cases and 340 cases with pending status) and 6 565 cases that tested positive by rapid antigen tests (RATs) verified in the past 24 hours.

     Separately, 213 additional imported cases were reported, including 186 cases that tested positive by nucleic acid tests (10 confirmed cases, 134 asymptomatic cases and 42 cases with pending status) and 27 cases that tested positive by RATs.

     Hong Kong has recorded a total of 878 592 and 635 380 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.

     Among the specimens received by the DH's Public Health Laboratory Services Branch during August 19 to 25 for verification testing of local cases, about 8.0 per cent and 43.8 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, August 28, a total of 9 451 death cases that had tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the fifth wave (since December 31, 2021) were recorded, with 9 370 and 78 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 9 664 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 (August 27), the total number of confirmed cases was 380 339, while the figures for asymptomatic cases, re-positive cases and pending/unknown cases recorded since January 1 were 256 918, 31 and 238 188 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€‹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 following is issued on behalf of the Judiciary:
 
Attention duty announcers, radio and TV stations:
 
Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at suitable intervals:
 
     As Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 8 has been cancelled, the Judiciary has announced that all hearings of the courts and tribunals will be resumed/ held as scheduled this afternoon (August 25). 
 
     Those who were due to attend court hearings this morning, including the jurors, should do so at 2.30pm today.
 
     Those who have been summoned for jury empanelment in the High Court this morning are not required to attend court until further notice in writing. 
 
     As for those who have been summoned for jury empanelment in the Coroner's Court this morning, they are required to appear in court at 2.30pm today. 

     Court/tribunal registries and offices will open at 11.20am today. Before that, while court users may use the integrated Court Case Management System (iCMS) for electronic services provided by the District Court registry as usual, any documents filed via the iCMS during the registry's closure period will be deemed to have been received upon its re-opening at 11.20am.
 
     It is anticipated that there will be a significant number of people going to the courts. In particular, for the High Court and West Kowloon Law Courts Building, given the need for security screening, court users are advised to arrive at the court building earlier to allow time for screening, particularly during the peak hours after the lunch break.