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

The Centre for Health Protection today confirmed that 13 people tested positive for COVID-19 after they arrived in Hong Kong from Pakistan yesterday.

The centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan conceded at this afternoon's press briefing that the percentage of Pakistan returnees with COVI-19 is somewhat high when compared with other countries.

"There are more than 1,100 Pakistan returnees to Hong Kong recently and we have recorded 33 cases among them. So the percentage is around three, which is relatively high compared with other countries."

Even though the percentage of Pakistan returnees with the virus is high, Dr Chuang assured the public that the centre took immediate steps to protect the local community by placing infected patients in a quarantine centre.

"As all of them - all the Pakistan returnees to Hong Kong - have been put under quarantine in Chun Yeung Estate, they will be quarantined for 14 days.

"This is to prevent any local transmission to the community. So I think the mere number of cases confirmed in one day does not increase the risk of local transmission."

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