The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 27) that, in view of the latest situation of COVID-19, further measures have to be adopted to achieve social distancing. From 6pm tomorrow (March 28), the LCSD will start to close free outdoor leisure facilities. These outdoor facilities include soccer pitches, basketball courts, volleyball courts, handball courts, netball courts, badminton courts, gateball courts, table tennis tables, playgrounds for children, barbecue sites, skateboard grounds, roller skating rinks, roller hockey courts, skateparks, fitness equipment, model car play areas, model boat pools, cycling facilities (except for cycle paths), amphitheatres, road safety towns and Pui O Campsite. Preparatory works to cordon off those facilities will be conducted earlier. The LCSD appealed for the public to avoid going to the above mentioned facilities that will be temporarily closed starting from March 28.

     Other venues and facilities with services already suspended will continue to be closed until further notice.

     Meanwhile, all booking applications for the department's recreation and sports facilities, wedding venues, amphitheatres and non-fee charging leisure venues for non-designated use is suspended until further notice.

     The LCSD will continue to monitor the situation closely and review the arrangements in a timely manner.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     From March 20 to 9pm today (March 27), 482 and 120 people have been referred to the test centres at the AsiaWorld-Expo and North Lantau Hospital respectively for COVID-19 viral test. So far, 557 people have negative test results for COVID-19 and have returned to their residence to continue the home quarantine.
      
     Preliminary positive test results will be further confirmed by the Department of Health and announced as confirmed cases in due course.

     In view of the substantial reduction in flight frequencies or even cancellation of flights to certain destinations by airlines, Hongkong Post announced today (March 27) that it was considered necessary to adjust air mail services to these destinations.

     At this critical moment, Hongkong Post still hopes to maintain its Speedpost services to major destinations by all means where possible, so as to facilitate the posting of urgent mail by the public. Notwithstanding this, even though Hongkong Post has completed the handling procedures after posting, as a result of substantial reduction in flight frequencies, the time required for handing in posted items to airlines is subject to considerable delays of more than two weeks.

     In respect of the service suspension of air mail to these major destinations, the public may consider using surface mail services instead. In this connection, Hongkong Post has requested service providers concerned to advance their shipping schedules or increase their frequencies of service to up to once per week. Members of the public may visit the Hongkong Post website at
www.hongkongpost.hk/en/preparation/posting/latest_dates/index.html and refer to the latest dates of posting for forthcoming surface despatches. Major destinations affected are set out below:
 

     In addition, mail items to be sent to the following destinations are required to transit via the above destinations, therefore their air mail services will also be subject to impacts of varied degrees:
 

 
     As advised respectively by the postal administration of France about its suspension of surface mail and the postal administration of India about its suspension of surface and air mail, postal services to and transit via these two destinations are also subject to impacts of varied degrees. The list of destinations affected is set out as follows:
 

 
     As the substantial reduction in flight frequencies continues, it is anticipated that air traffic capacity would not be able to resume stable in the near future. Members of the public may visit the Hongkong Post website and refer to the links
www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index_id_898.html and www.hongkongpost.hk/en/about_us/whats_new/notices/index_id_899.html for all the destinations and their respective services under influence.

     A man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan has been located.

     Leung Siu-lam, aged 64, went missing after he left his residence on Broadway on March 14 morning. His family made a report to Police on March 18.

     The man was located at a hotel on Arthur Street in Yau Ma Tei this morning (March 27). He sustained no injuries and no suspicious circumstances were detected.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at noon today (March 27), public hospitals had reported to the Department of Health the admission of 326 patients (151 male and 174 female, gender information of one patient is unknown, aged one to 74) in the past 24 hours who met the reporting criteria of COVID-19. Appropriate tests have been arranged for the patients.
      
     There are 498 patients under isolation currently. So far, 111 patients who had COVID-19 confirmed or probable infection have been discharged upon recovery.
      
     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.