Only five of 21 community testing centres and stations will stay open after next Wednesday.

The government announced that in view of the declining demand for nucleic acid testing, 16 testing sites will cease operation from March 22.

Five sites will continue to provide self-paid service. They are in Edinburgh Place in Central, Leighton Hill Community Hall in Causeway Bay, Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community, Lek Yuen Community Hall in Sha Tin and Yuen Long Town East Community Hall.

They will be open from 10am to 8pm daily and will be closed from 1.30pm to 2pm/2.30pm for deep cleaning and disinfection.

Meanwhile, the airport has a rapid testing centre that operates 24 hours a day, allowing passengers to obtain results within two hours.

A government spokesperson said that the 16 community testing centres and stations about to be suspended will resume their original community and recreational purposes as soon as possible.