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

The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 26 additional COVID-19 cases, of which 21 are locally transmitted.

Among the local cases, five have unknown sources of infection.

At a press briefing this afternoon, the centre's Communicable Disease Branch Head Dr Chuang Shuk-kwan noted that one of the unlinked cases is a Po Leung Kuk On Tai Rehabilitation Centre resident who developed a fever yesterday.

More than 40 residents living on the same floor with the patient and over 30 staff were classified as close contacts and have been put under quarantine.

Dr Chuang added that two rehabilitation centre staff have also tested preliminary positive, one of whom is related to an earlier confirmed COVID-19 case.

"We only understand that the Po Leung Kuk On Tai Rehabilitation Centre staff member, because she is asymptomatic, she did visit the home of her relative who is a confirmed case during the communicable period of the case. So it is possible that she acquired the infection from her.

"But as she is asymptomatic, it is difficult to say when she contracted the virus.

"Also there are two linked cases to her. One is another rehabilitation centre staff and the other one is a resident. So preliminarily, we consider there's an epidemiological link between these cases."

Other confirmed cases include three residents of Wai Lee Building in Quarry Bay who were announced as preliminary positive cases yesterday. Two of them live in 04 units.

Dr Chuang reported that two more residents who live in 05 units of that building have tested preliminary positive for the virus, adding that 04 and 05 units are close to each other.

"For the Wai Lee Building cases, I understand one of them is an immediate neighbour of one of the previously confirmed cases. They shared the same building entrance and they entered their units separately so it is very possible that they had some unknown contact at the door or shared entrance. So essentially, they are quite close to each other.

"But I understand all the residents in that building have been tested, so hopefully all the cases have been identified at this moment.

"Of course, there is still an incubation period, so we have to observe."

Additionally, eight buildings are now covered by compulsory testing notices.

Mobile specimen collection stations will be set up at Shek Kip Mei Estate and Tin Yan Estate in Tin Shui Wai tomorrow to provide free testing services.

The five imported cases involve a family of four from India and a foreign domestic helper from Indonesia.

Meanwhile, as the global and local epidemic situations remain severe, the Government will extend the expiry date of the Prevention & Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation to August 14.

It said the decision was made after taking into account the continual need to publish compulsory testing notices and specifications in view of the epidemic in the near future.

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