(To watch the full press briefing with sign language interpretation, click here.)

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 81 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 77 are locally infected and four are imported.

The patients comprise 40 men and 41 women, aged ten-months-old to 84. Among the local cases, 15 have unknown sources of infection.

Seventy-two of the cases involve mutant strains, the mutation test results of seven cases are pending and the viral load of the remaining two cases is insufficient for mutation tests.

Briefing the media this afternoon, the Centre for Health Protection’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan noted that there are more than 70 preliminary positive COVID-19 cases.

Dr Chuang reminded the public to avoid gatherings during the upcoming Chinese New Year.

“For the coming Lunar New Year, I understand many families will like to gather together and share some meals or eating some food, I mean, enjoy the festival. I would like to alert people that they should be careful, especially if there are elderly involved or people who have not yet been vaccinated. If they get infected, there may be some complications.”

Separately, the Government tonight made restriction-testing declarations to cover No. 18, 20 Yin On Street and No. 17, 19, Tsun Fat Street in To Kwa Wan and Shek Wah House, Shek Lei (II) Estate in Kwai Chung, requiring people in the restricted areas to undergo compulsory testing.

In view of the positive sewage testing results in Kwai Chung, Yan Chai Hospital Artiste Training Alumni Association Care & Attention Home, Shek Lei (II) Estate is covered in a compulsory testing notice.

As regards positive sewage testing results in Sha Tin, Tai Po and Mong Kok, the Home Affairs Department will distribute rapid test kits to residents in the areas around Ma On Shan and Golden Lion Garden as well as around the Wonderland, Serenity Villa, Serenity Park and Tai Wo Centre.

Rapid test kits are also distributed to all cleansing workers and property management staff working in the area around Argyle Centre, Langham Place and the area between Argyle Street and Bute Street.

Thirty-seven places are covered in a compulsory testing notice. The Government will set up additional mobile specimen collection stations at 557 Shanghai Street in Mong Kok, Arthur Street Temporary Playground in Yau Ma Tei and Mei Lam Sports Centre in Tai Wai tomorrow. The service period of the mobile stations at Tai Wo Hau Estate Community Centre and Wo Hing Sports Centre in Fanling will be extended until further notice, and that of Siu Sai Wan Community Hall and Kai Tak East Playground to February 3.

For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage.