People wearing face masks, walk at a park in Hong Kong, May 9, 2022. (KIN CHEUNG / AP)

HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said it was stepping up COVID-19 testing arrangements to prevent the pandemic from rebounding further in the city.

In a statement issued on Monday night, the government urged members of public to get tested more frequently to stop any rebound due to the increase in the flow of people and social activities arising from the recent launch of events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the HKSAR.

Rapid antigen test kits were recently distributed in Wan Chai, Sha Tin and Yau Tsim Mong districts after sewage samples tested positive for the virus

“The government will continue to adopt a risk-based testing strategy, and step up testing arrangements in the next few days with focus in high-risk districts where more cases and positive virus testing in sewage samples are detected,” a government spokesman was quoted as saying in the statement.

The government said the distribution of rapid antigen test kits has been extended to frontline property management staff and construction sites, as well as to residents joining district celebration activities.

To support and encourage citizens aged 60 or above to undergo voluntary testing regularly, the government will also continue giving out test kits through elderly service units.

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The Environment Bureau and the Environmental Protection Department have distributed around 22 million free RAT kits after conducting risk assessments based on sewage surveillance results. 

Recently, RAT kits were distributed in Wan Chai, Sha Tin and Yau Tsim Mong district after sewage samples tested positive for the virus. 

Since last weekend, the government has also started to issue more compulsory testing notices in the key areas for the early detection of COVID-19 cases.

On Monday, the government issued a compulsory testing notice for 36 places, including five specified premises in Sha Tin, Sham Tseng, Tseung Kwan O and Aberdeen, after some of their sewage samples tested positive.

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The government earlier announced that existing social distancing measures will be extended until July 13.

These include the requirement that all patrons of bars, pubs, clubs and nightclubs have to undergo a test and obtain a negative result before they can these nightspots.

Hong Kong reported 1,873 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, including 154 imported infections.