THE 14-day Universal Community Testing Program (UCTP), which concluded Monday, has identified 32 new COVID-19 cases, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government said Tuesday.

About 1,783,000 specimens were tested under the program over the past two weeks, in which 46 positive cases were identified.

Among these cases, five overlapped with the previously confirmed cases, and another eight were recovered patients whose test results “turned positive again.” Another one failed the retest due to insufficient specimen and the Center for Health Protection (CHP) has notified the patient for further testing.

The 32 newly confirmed cases under the program included 13 asymptomatic cases, which demonstrated that the mass screening has helped identify silent carriers of the virus and cut the transmission chain in the community, the CHP said.

Among the 87 close contacts of the 32 new cases, five have been confirmed COVID-19 positive and there is possibility that more patients will be found as the tracking work continues, the authority added.

The CHP reported nine new cases of COVID-19 in Hong Kong yesterday, taking the total confirmed cases to 4,984.

The new cases included four imported and the remaining five are epidemiologically linked with local cases, according to a statement issued by the CHP.

The CHP’s epidemiological investigations and relevant contact tracing on the confirmed cases are ongoing.

According to Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority, 183 patients are still hospitalized, including 16 in critical condition.

The number of deaths related to COVID-19 is 102. (Xinhua)