Hong Kong, Apr 3 (IANS): Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam has invited residents of the city to participate in a mass self-testing for Covid-19 from April 8-10.

Addressing reporters, Lam said that the test, on a voluntary basis, is not a replacement for the planned mass mandatory testing, but it aims to identify Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong and see when is the best time to conduct the massive testing, reports Xinhua news agency.

Of the more than 1.1 million positive cases reported in Hong Kong so far, 37 per cent, or more than 425,000 cases, came from valid RAT results, according to Lam.

The Hong Kong government on Saturday began distributing anti-epidemic service bags, which include 20 RAT kits, to households across the territory, Lam said, urging people to carry out the tests and submit the results within 24 hours if tested positive.

In the last 24 hours, Hong Kong registered 2,286 new Covid-19 cases by nucleic acid tests, and 2,189 additional positive cases through RATs, official data showed.