The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     As at 9am today (January 9), 65 COVID-19 confirmed patients were discharged from hospital in the last 24 hours. Including two patients (case numbers: 7451 and 9128) discharged on January 7, a total of 8 374 patients with confirmed or probable infection have been discharged so far.

     At present, there are 688 negative pressure rooms in public hospitals with 1 253 negative pressure beds activated. A total of 591 confirmed patients are currently hospitalised in 23 public hospitals and a community treatment facility, among which 39 patients are in critical condition, 43 are in serious condition and the remaining 509 patients are in stable condition. Moreover, an 86-year-old male patient (case number: 8866), who was confirmed with COVID-19 infection on December 31, succumbed in Caritas Medical Centre at 2.17pm today. Including this patient, 154 COVID-19 patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.

     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.

     Details of the above-mentioned patients are as follows:
 

     In view of the cold weather, the Home Affairs Department has opened 18 temporary shelters today (January 9) for people in need of the service.
          
     The temporary shelters will remain open during the daytime tomorrow (January 10) when the cold weather warning is still in force.

     To ensure that cold shelter users can rest in a quiet and undisturbed environment, members of the public or agencies wishing to make donations to shelter users are requested to register with the staff of the shelter first. Donors will then be directed to place the donated items at a specified indoor location. The staff will help notify the shelter users to collect the items on their own.

     Anyone seeking temporary refuge or with any questions about the donation arrangements at the cold shelters may call the department's hotline 2572 8427 for more information.

     The 18 temporary cold shelters are located at:

Hong Kong Districts:
——————–

Central and Western:
Sai Ying Pun Community Complex Community Hall
3/F, Sai Ying Pun Community Complex, 2 High Street, Sai Ying Pun

Eastern:
Causeway Bay Community Centre
3/F, 7 Fook Yum Road, Causeway Bay

Southern:
Lei Tung Community Hall
Lei Tung Estate, Ap Lei Chau

Wan Chai:
Wan Chai Activities Centre
LG/F, Wan Chai Market, 258 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai

Kowloon Districts:
——————

Kowloon City:
Hung Hom Community Hall
1/F, Kowloon City Government Offices, 42 Bailey Street, Hung Hom

Kwun Tong:
Lam Tin (West) Estate Community Centre
71 Kai Tin Road, Lam Tin

Sham Shui Po:
Nam Cheong District Community Centre
1 Cheong San Lane, Sham Shui Po

Wong Tai Sin:
Tsz Wan Shan (South) Estate Community Centre
45 Wan Wah Street, Tsz Wan Shan

Yau Tsim Mong:
Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre
60 Public Square Street, Yau Ma Tei

New Territories:
—————-

Islands:
Tung Chung Community Hall
G/F, Tung Chung Municipal Services Building,
39 Man Tung Road, Tung Chung

Kwai Tsing:
Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre
15 Tai Wo Hau Road, Kwai Chung

North:
Cheung Wah Community Hall
Cheung Wah Estate, Fanling

Sai Kung:
King Lam Neighbourhood Community Centre
King Lam Estate, Tseung Kwan O

Sha Tin:
Lung Hang Estate Community Centre
Lung Hang Estate, Sha Tin

Tai Po:
Tai Po Community Centre
2 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po

Tsuen Wan:
Lei Muk Shue Community Hall
G/F, Hong Shue House, Lei Muk Shue Estate, Tsuen Wan

Tuen Mun:
Butterfly Bay Community Centre
Butterfly Estate (near Tip Sum House), Tuen Mun

Yuen Long:
Long Ping Community Hall
Long Ping Estate, Yuen Long

     Police arrested twelve men and one woman, aged 15 to 61, yesterday (January 8) who were in suspected connection with a murder case in Sheung Shui on December 22 last year in which a 57-year-old man died.

     After investigation, Police conducted an operation and seized five beef knives, about 86 grams of suspected crack cocaine and a batch of drug packaging paraphernalia inside a unit in Ngau Tau Kok. The twelve men and the woman were arrested for murder, trafficking in a dangerous drug and possession of offensive weapon in various districts in Kowloon and the New Territories.

     The arrestees are being detained for further enquiries.

     Active investigation by the Regional Crime Unit of New Territories North is underway.

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

     The spokesperson for Caritas Medical Centre (CMC) today (January 9) announced that a patient confirmed with COVID-19 infection passed away today.
      
     A 71-year-old male patient (case number: 8069) with chronic diseases was admitted to CMC due to hyperglycaemia and fall on December 17, 2020, and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. His condition continued to deteriorate and he was transferred to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on December 25, 2020 and eventually succumbed at 2.45am this morning.
      
     The hospital is saddened about the passing away of the patient and would offer necessary assistance to his family members.
      
     Including the above patient, 153 COVID-19 patients have passed away in public hospitals so far.
 

     With the prolonged local COVID-19 epidemic situation, there has been a widespread number of confirmed cases across all districts. Some of the confirmed cases have been asymptomatic, which indicates the existence of many silent transmission chains within the community. The Government has exercised the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) to cover a number of buildings across the territory under compulsory testing notices and require residents, workers and visitors to undergo testing. To facilitate persons covered under the compulsory testing notices to undergo testing, the Government has arranged for testing service providers to set up mobile specimen collection stations at a number of locations in various districts to provide free and convenient testing services for them.

     The opening dates and operating hours of the mobile specimen collection stations in various districts providing free COVID-19 nucleic acid testing services for the general public are in the Annex. Two new mobile specimen collection stations are set up at Yan Ching House of Kai Ching Estate, Kowloon City, and Mei Tin Community Hall, Tai Wai. The Government has earlier extended the service period of the mobile specimen collection stations at Heung Sze Wui Street in Tai Po, Sha Tsui Road in Tsuen Wan, Wong Tai Sin Square, Tung Chung North Park and Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground to January 15. 

     The Government has taken into account the testing service needs of individual buildings covered under compulsory testing notices and the existing testing services near the buildings in the course of setting up mobile specimen collection stations.

     The Government will decide whether it is necessary to increase the number of stations, adjust or extend the operation periods of the stations after reviewing their usage and the public's demand for the testing service.

     Apart from mobile specimen collection stations, persons subject to compulsory testing can also choose to attend any of the community testing centres in all districts to receive testing free of charge. Separately, as there have been several COVID-19 confirmed cases at 26 Reclamation Street, Jordan recently, the Community Testing Centre in Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre extends free testing service to residents of 20 to 26 Reclamation Street (even nos.) from today (January 9) until January 11 tentatively. The operating hours of the centres are from 8am to 1.30pm and from 2.30pm to 8pm daily. The centres provide booking as well as on-site registration services. Members of the public are only required to input simple personal information and select the testing centre and time slot in the 24-hour appointment booking system (www.communitytest.gov.hk). The centres accord priority to those who make bookings in advance.

     A Government spokesman said, "The testing service providers will provide specimen collection services by combined nasal and throat swabs at the mobile specimen collection stations and community testing centres for testing free of charge. Generally speaking, mobile specimen collection stations only provide testing services for local residents and workers who are subject to compulsory testing."

     People whose test results are negative will be informed by SMS notifications through their mobile phones. Persons subject to compulsory testing must properly keep the relevant records. If any specimen tested shows a preliminarily positive result, the specimen will be referred to the Public Health Laboratory Services Branch of the Department of Health (DH) for a confirmatory test. Confirmed cases will be followed up and announced by the Centre for Health Protection of the DH.

     The Government reminds the public that they can undergo COVID-19 testing for free through various means. For details on other free-of-charge testing means other than mobile specimen collection stations and community testing centres, please refer to the following webpage: www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/early-testing.html. If a person has symptoms, he or she should seek medical attention immediately and should not attend the mobile specimen collection stations or community testing centres.

     The spokesman urged all individuals who are in doubt about their own health condition, or individuals with exposure to infection risk (such as individuals who visited places with epidemic outbreaks or contacted confirmed cases), to undergo testing promptly for early identification of infected persons.