A view of a coronavirus testing center at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong, Sept 1, 2020. (PHOTO / INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HKSAR GOVT)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported 11 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, including five infections detected due to the government’s free Universal Community Testing Programme (UCTP), health officials said.

In a media briefing on Monday afternoon, a Centre for Health Protection (CHP) official said four of the five infections were of unknown origin

In a media briefing on Monday afternoon, a Centre for Health Protection (CHP) official said four of the five infections were of unknown origin, including that of a pregnant woman who worked for a Chinese medicine clinic.

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Out of the 11 new cases, ten were local infections and five of these were linked to an infection cluster in Tai Wai. That cluster now has nine patients, the CHP official said.

The lone imported cases involved a domestic helper who arrived from the Philippines, the official added.

Excluding patients who had recovered and still had traces of the virus, but were believed not contagious, the citywide free testing program has detected 16 infected patients. Hong Kong’s total number of confirmed cases stood at 4,889, the CHP official added.

According to the Hospital Authority, a 96-year-old woman died on Monday morning at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and became the city’s 98th fatality due to the coronavirus.

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As of 8 pm of September 7, a total of about 856,000 specimens collected under the UCTP had been tested. Specimens of 15 people returned positive by Sept 5, including four from previously recovered COVID-19 patients, the CHP official said.

A total of about 1,197,000 persons had registered for testing since the UCTP was launched on September 1.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu­-chee (first right) and Director of Health Constance Chan Hon-yee (second right) inspect the community testing centre at Lockhart Road Sports Centre on Sept 7, 2020 to view its operation and encourage the healthcare staff and others working there. Looking on is former President of the Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong Raymond Lo (third right). (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVT)

Also on Monday, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu­-chee and Director of Health Constance Chan Hon-yee inspected the community testing centre at Lockhart Road Sports Centre. 

The healthcare personnel at the centre come from the Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong.   

“The UCTP can identify asymptomatic patients in the community, thereby cut the virus transmission chains and help relax the social distancing measures gradually in Hong Kong so as to allow members of public to resume social and economic activities,” Chan said.

“I appeal to the public to fight the virus together and join the UCTP to protect themselves and others, with a view to winning the battle against the virus as soon as possible," she added.

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