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

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 25 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 22 are locally transmitted. Among the local cases, seven have unknown sources of infection.

The centre’s Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan in a press briefing said the patients include 17 men and eight women aged between 27 and 96.

Three cases involve a worker and two close contacts from the Tseung Kwan O - Lam Tin Tunnel construction site cluster.

One of the cases with an unknown source of infection involves a man living at Mental Health Association of Hong Kong Irene House of Lung Gut House at Lower Wong Tai Sin (II) Estate. Thirty-seven other residents were sent to a quarantine centre.

The Government issued compulsory testing notices to cover Chung Chi House at Chung On Estate in Ma On Shan and Fung Chak House at Choi Wan (II) Estate.

Dr Chuang cautioned that there could still be asymptomatic cases in the community, despite the downward trend. 

“The total number of COVID-19 cases has indeed dropped to some 20, but this is a one-day figure. We foresee some fluctuations during the week, but the overall trend has been decreasing. This is a good signal.

“But still, there are quite a number of unlinked local cases in the community. So we are not sure whether we have picked up all the cases in the community.

“It is possible that there are still some symptomatic cases not picked up because they have not sought help, medical advice or got tested as soon as possible. Also, there may be other asymptomatic infections in the community. So hopefully the trend will continue, then we can see a downward trend.”

Hospital Authority Chief Manager (Clinical Effectiveness & Technology Management) Dr Linda Yu added that a radiographer at Tuen Mun Hospital's Department of Nuclear Medicine has tested preliminary positive for the virus.