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

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 24 additional COVID-19 cases, taking the number of confirmed cases in Hong Kong to 1,323.

The new cases, involving 14 males and 10 females aged between 31 and 92, comprise 19 local cases and five imported ones.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan said some of the new local cases involve four residents and four staff members of a residential care home for the elderly.

She noted that four more patrons of a restaurant at Jordan or Ping Shek Estate, including a taxi driver, are among those who tested positive for the coronavirus.

“We understand the two restaurants are quite popular among those taxi drivers, but there are also other (members of the) general public who attend those restaurants, so it’s possible that (patients of) unknown cases or asymptomatic cases may spread the disease in the community.”

Dr Chuang stated that people who visited the two restaurants could order deep throat saliva specimen bottles from the CHP if they are worried, but if they develop symptoms, they should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

“We have set up an email for people to order some (specimen) bottles from us if they’re worried and also ask any (of the) general public who have visited these restaurants and if they develop any symptoms (to) please go to see a doctor as soon as possible instead of waiting for us, because it takes one or two days for us to distribute the bottles to them.

“So if they're asymptomatic, of course they can wait for us, but if they have any cough or sore throat please go to the doctor as soon as possible.”

Dr Chuang emphasised that the CHP has been following up on the confirmed cases related to an elderly home.

“We have tested the elderly home residents and the staff of the elderly home, and we also distributed bottles to the residents and staff of the two nearby elderly homes.

“Because it takes time for the elderly homes to save the saliva, especially for the elderly people sometimes it’s a bit difficult, so I expect the results will be coming in the coming one or two days.”

Additionally, the Hospital Authority reported that 139 confirmed COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalised and 1,167 confirmed and suspected patients have been discharged. 

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