People wearing face masks are seen in Hong Kong on Feb 9, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong reported one new imported COVID-19 case on Thursday, pushing the city’s tally to 11,971.

The new patient was a 49-year-old woman flying in from the United States. She remained asymptomatic, according to a statement issued by the Centre for Health Protection.

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The testing interval for staff of residential care homes for the elderly will be shortened to seven days from the current 14 starting from the 22nd round of compulsory testing, said the Social Welfare Department

A total of 25 cases have been reported in the past 14 days, including 24 imported cases, according to the CHP.

As of Wednesday, more than 2.92 million people in Hong Kong have received at least the first vaccine shot, accounting for 43 percent of those aged 12 or above. Among them, about 2.09 million people have been fully inoculated since the city’s vaccination program kicked off on Feb 26.

The government also announced that staff of residential care homes for the elderly must undergo the 21st round of compulsory COVID-19 nucleic acid testing from Sunday to Aug 3 unless they have been vaccinated.

Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee issued on Wednesday a compulsory testing notice, which also applies to staff of nursing homes and residential care homes for persons with disabilities.

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The notice covers those who are employed or will be employed for the period from Aug 4 to 10.

According to the notice, they must not take the sample themselves and should receive specimen collection services using combined nasal and throat swabs. 

People who have completed a COVID-19 vaccination course are exempted from the compulsory testing, but they could still receive the free testing service if they voluntarily choose to undergo the test, the government said.

The testing interval will be shortened to seven days from the current 14 starting from the 22nd round of compulsory testing, according to the Social Welfare Department.